Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering freezing private rents for a year to limit the impact of the Iran war on households’ finances.
Sources told The Guardian that landlords in England would be banned from raising rents for a limited period of time under the proposals, which are still being debated within government.
They told the newspaper that the measure was being considered due to concerns about what the conflict could mean for mortgages and household budgets as oil and gas prices stay high.
The chancellor has previously resisted the idea of introducing rental controls.
The average private rent across the UK is £1,377 a month, according to the latest Office for National Statistics data.
It rose by 3.4% in the 12 months to March 2026, down from an annual growth rate of 3.6% the month before.
In England, the average rent is slightly higher at £1,434. This compares to £830 in Wales, £1,022 in Scotland and £880 in Northern Ireland.
MEZIESBLOG has contacted the Treasury for comment.
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