Welsh Government launches Green Paper consultation on achieving adequate housing, including fair rents and affordability

Evidence sought to support development of White Paper on establishing private sector rent controls and new approaches to making homes affordable in Wales

The Welsh Government has launched a Green Paper consultation on achieving adequate housing, including fair rents and affordability.

Introducing 'A Call for Evidence on securing a path towards Adequate Housing – including Fair Rents and Affordability' in a written statement to the Senedd yesterday, Welsh Government Minister Julie James said –

'This Green Paper consultation is to support and develop our Programme for Government’s commitment, and the commitment in the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru, to  'publish a White Paper to include proposals for a right to adequate housing with a view to establishing (a) system of fair rents (rent control) in the private rental market so that they are affordable for local people on local incomes and (b) new approaches to making homes affordable for those on local incomes.'

Ms James added that, although there are international examples of academic work on the concept of housing adequacy and fair rent measures, these are not directly transferable to the Welsh housing sector and therefore the consultation is seeking evidence on the rental market in Wales including –

• what factors influence landlord behaviour in setting rents and taking on tenants; and
• what tenants consider is an affordable and adequate property.

Turning to affordability, Ms James said that –

'Increasing housing availability is critical to addressing rising rent increases, which is why we have committed to delivering 20,000 low carbon social homes for rent over the next five years. However, I am keen that all tenures work more cohesively together in the future, and therefore we are keen to look at how the supply of new build affordable private rental properties could be delivered.'

The deadline for responses to the call for evidence is 15 September 2023.

The Green Paper, A Call for Evidence on securing a path towards Adequate Housing – including Fair Rents and Affordability, is available from gov.wales