Professor Richard Murphy, an accounting academic and economic justice campaigner, warns that UK rents are “out of control” and accuses landlords of “extracting wealth from the poor to enrich the rich.”

Citing data from the Office for National Statistics, Murphy points out that the proportion of gross income spent on rent in England rose by 3% in 2023/24. This brings the average cost to 36% of gross income nationally, and a staggering 40% in London.

Murphy argues that this situation is grossly unfair, forcing people to work primarily to pay their landlords, which can drag them into “real poverty.” He believes the government must take action, either by introducing private rent controls or by providing more social housing at genuinely affordable rents.

You can read his full post here.