The Green Party has voted to adopt a policy aimed at the “effective abolition of private landlordism” following a motion passed at its conference in Bournemouth on Sunday.

Under the new policy, tenants would have first right of refusal when a landlord sells, with the “total rent paid discounted” from the purchase price and government-backed financing provided. Local councils would have second right to buy.

Other measures include:

• Rent controls on the private sector
• Abolition of Right to Buy for council tenants
• A ban on buy-to-let mortgages
• National Insurance contributions levied on rental income
• Long-term tenancies that can be ended only by the tenant
• Business rates on short-term lets such as Airbnbs
• Double taxation for empty homes

Party members also backed the introduction of a land value tax and called for a large-scale programme of new council house building.

‘Not Actually Abolishing Landlords’

Green MP Carla Denyer (Bristol Central) sought to soften the proposal’s wording, saying:  “While the motion to conference had an eye-catching name, it does not actually abolish landlords. It does, however, address the housing crisis, empowers tenants and improves their wellbeing.”

Denyer said the policies would “reduce the proportion of privately rented homes over time” while boosting social housing supply.

Critics: ‘Like a Communist Manifesto’

Former Green deputy leader Shahrar Ali condemned the motion, saying it “reads like a communist manifesto.”  “It’s a sledgehammer to crack a nut and wrongly assumes all rental agreements or landlords are exploitative,” he told The Telegraph.

“The obligation on landlords to sell to tenants and treat rent as a down payment is fantasy economics — it conflates rent with mortgage repayment.”

Ali argued the policy would destroy “any semblance of wealth creation generated by letting.”

Internal Division

Motion proposer Alexander Sallons admitted the idea was “controversial within the party”, telling PoliticsHome that “many members are still uncomfortable with the bold and decisive tone.”

The Green Party leadership hopes the proposals will help spur a new wave of council house construction — though critics see the move as an ideological attempt to dismantle private renting altogether.