In the poll conducted by Bridging & Commercial, 71% of respondents were in favour of enforcing rent controls on the UK, while 29% believed that such enforcement wasn’t needed.

However, specialist finance lenders have argued that rent controls could result in a drop in supply and quality of accommodation.

How could UK rent controls affect the market?

Alexander Moss, operations manager at Zorin Finance, said: “At a time when the buy-to-let market is fragile due to SDLT surcharges and reduced mortgage relief, further limitations on landlord income through rent controls is likely to cause a mass exodus from the sector, ultimately hurting renters as the supply and quality of accommodation will drop.

“Though it is difficult not to have sympathy for those who have been evicted from multiple-rented homes, or have been forced to share a room in a cramped flat, the market is already starting to respond.

“The built-to-rent sector – which offers high-quality homes with the security of long leases and the comfort of on-site amenities – is starting to grow legs as a direct response to failures of the traditional buy-to-let market.

“Furthermore, the high cost of renting in cities like London – coupled with lower yields for investors – is causing a rejuvenation in second cities such as Birmingham and Manchester, as landlords realise they can often double their yields, while renters enjoy the extra space they can afford.

“Imposing rent controls is treating a symptom in the hope of addressing the cause.

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“As such, it may give some brief relief to a few renters, but will ultimately prolong the slow death of the housing market, which needs radical reform to planning, developer tax incentives and construction methods.”

Jon Salisbury, managing director at Ortus Secured Finance, believed that high rents in the UK were more of a function of low levels of supply, which were partly due to planning restrictions.

“Rent controls could put off new landlords from entering the market and, in turn, restrict supply and investment in the private rented sector.

“It could end up being a self-defeating policy. 

“It should also be noted that the Savills autumn residential property forecast predicts that rents across the UK will increase by 2.5-3.5% pa over the next five years, which is largely in line with projected wage growth.”

Paul Riddell, head of marketing and communications at Lendy, added: “We need to deliver more residential property – not less – to solve the housing crisis.

“Capping returns on investment in residential property via rent controls is likely to see less capital invested in the sector – rather than more.

“Before the introduction of assured shorthold tenancies in the 1980s, we had rent controls via the backdoor.

“The market did not work properly.

“Investors felt they were unable to get a decent return from the lettings market, landlords did not invest in their properties and the standard of rental accommodation.

“We would certainly support a properly staffed government review into rents and what the market, registered providers and local authorities need to be doing to ensure that rents do not get ahead of real earnings growth.”