Joanna Evans from Brighton is calling on the Government to bring in a price cap on private rents.

I am 27 years old and still living at home. I thought by now that I would be independent and living on my own in Brighton, the brilliant vibrant city I have grown up and work in.

Unfortunately this is not the case.

Rent has risen so high in the city that a one bed flat in the area can go from £650 to £750 a month. Often the property is of poor quality and little more than a studio.

Factor in agency fees and council tax and an average wage cannot cover this. 

This is happening all over the country. People are being priced out of areas they have grown up and work in.

So I started a petition to ask the Government to cap private rents.

We need to impose rent controls and restrictions on private landlords, including minimum quality standards as they do in Sweden and across Europe.

It is the hardworking taxpayer who is subsidising private landlords in housing benefits to make up the shortfall in what people can afford to pay.

It is essential that the Government implement rent caps in the private sector. Average earners have to face such inflated rents they are unable to save money.

Lowering and capping rents would enable people to save for a mortgage or allow a more disposable income to inject into our failing economy.

There has been a boom in buy to let mortgages spurred on by current low interest rates.

Rents are still increasing and there is no indication that they will level out soon, so that is why the Government must start to regulate the private rent market.

We know that private rents are out of control and simply unaffordable to most people on an average wage.

It is particularly difficult for many young people, who are either paying off student loans or who are, by virtue of their age and experience, in low paid jobs (when they can get one).

The Government has targeted them with housing benefit cuts so if they do lose their job they are faced with eviction.

To sign Joanna’s petition visit you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/implementing-caps-on-private-rents.