The Green Party has taken control of Lewisham Council in south London, ending Labour’s dominance in the borough and pledging to establish a dedicated taskforce to target non-compliant landlords in the private rental sector.
The Greens secured 40 of the 54 council seats in last week’s local elections, marking a significant shift in a borough that had been controlled by Labour for most of the past 55 years. The party also won the Lewisham mayoralty.
Enforcement priorities
The Green manifesto commits to enforcing the Renters’ Rights Act and creating a ‘Rogue Landlord Taskforce’ aimed at driving compliance across the private rented sector. The document states that “the housing crisis has reached breaking point” and highlights concerns about affordability and rental insecurity.
According to the manifesto, many Lewisham residents “cannot afford to live here” and are “trapped in the precarity of the private rental sector, where rising rents and insecure tenancies push many into homelessness.”
National policy context
The election result comes as rent control proposals continue to gain political traction, with the Green Party making rental caps a central element of its national campaign. Party leader Zack Polanski has argued that renters are “stuck in an over-inflated market where landlords can often charge what they want.”
The party has pledged to give local authorities powers to introduce rent caps and pursue a national system if in government. Polanski has called for mayors to receive powers to implement rent controls in their areas. At its annual conference, the party passed a motion calling for an “effective abolition of private landlords.”
Implications for landlords
The establishment of a dedicated enforcement taskforce in Lewisham could signal increased scrutiny for private landlords operating in the borough. The move follows recent regulatory developments affecting the property sector, including enhanced compliance requirements across various aspects of property management.
Property professionals and landlords with portfolios in Lewisham may face additional inspections and enforcement activity as the new administration implements its manifesto commitments. The council’s approach could also influence policy discussions in other London boroughs where the Green Party has gained representation.
