Angela Rayner, the housing secretary, has been criticized for accepting a £20,000 speaking fee from Propertymark, an organization that has campaigned against rent controls. About 20 members of the London Renters Union gathered outside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to protest her acceptance of the fee.
The protest was in response to Rayner’s speech at a Propertymark conference on 12 June, where she criticized the government’s perceived retreat from implementing rent controls. The London Renters Union presented a novelty £20,001 cheque to Rayner, saying they were “outbidding” the property industry for her attention.
Rayner was paid £20,000 for a two-hour speaking engagement at Propertymark’s event, before she was reappointed housing secretary on 20 July. Four days later, she ruled out rent controls, saying she did not believe freezes or controls were the answer to rising rents. Propertymark has previously lobbied against a rent freeze.
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Rayner had backed stronger protections for private renters, including a ban on no-fault evictions and unreasonable rent increases. But shortly after returning as housing secretary, she said she did not think that “rent freezes, rent controls, are a way forward at the moment”. The Renters’ Rights Act came into force in May, limiting increases to once a year and allowing tenants to challenge above-market rises.
Jae Vail, a campaigner for the London Renters Union, said the group was not alleging that Rayner had broken any rules, but that the payment raised political questions. Vail added: “During a cost-of-living crisis, Rayner has questions to answer about where her allegiances lie — with the estate agents, landlords and corporate developers, or with renters struggling with an ever-worsening affordability crisis.”
Propertymark said speaker fees were part of the cost of running its annual conference and that Rayner was invited because of her role in decisions affecting the property sector. Nathan Emerson, Propertymark’s chief executive, said: “There was no indication or expectation that she would subsequently return to government. Her invitation was based solely on her experience and significant role in the development of the Renters’ Rights Bill.”
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A spokesperson for Rayner said: “All earnings have been declared in line with the rules.”
The London Renters Union has urged Rayner to meet with renters and consider the case for rent controls.
