On Tuesday, Dec 1st, 2015 Kath Scanlon presented evidence to the Housing Select Committee of the London Borough of Lewisham about private renting in London and Germany.

Here’s an excerpt of the presentation:

Conclusions

• PRS has grown quickly in London since early 1990s, mostly through transfer of existing homes rather than new build
• 1988 deregulation of rents and leases contributed. English rental market much less regulated than in most European countries
• PRS rents higher in London than almost anywhere else—as are house prices
• Effects of policies like rent control depend on legal, cultural and economic frameworks. What works well elsewhere might work very differently here.

The presentation can be downloaded from our archives here.