Housing Futures Cymru calls for better housing options for young people

“The [private rented sector] accounts for a significant percentage of homes in Wales and must be seen as an important partner in addressing the current housing emergency.”

The policies would partly emulate the Renters’ Rights Act, which comes into force in England on 1 May, and gives tenants the right to challenge rent increases they consider unfair before a tribunal, which can order reductions but cannot push rents higher.

Labour has led the Welsh parliament since devolution in 1999, but polling suggests the May election will be a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.

Community Housing Cymru recently estimated that about 60% of the new and expanded Senedd will be made up of new members.

Private rents have risen by 8.7% in the last year, according to official data, far outpacing wage growth of 4.7%.

The report said: “Young, single adults in particular are bearing the brunt of this pressure. For many young people, rent now consumes over 35% of income, leaving little opportunity to build savings and plan for future housing security, including the opportunity of homeownership.” 

Joe Stockley, chair of Housing Futures Cymru, said: “It’s important for young people working in housing to be part of the conversation.

“It’s an issue that affects us in all areas of our lives and we are often in the most unstable positions, with arguably less job security and greater uncertainty about our own housing futures.”

The group called for clearer guidelines on when tenants can withhold rent under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, stronger enforcement powers for local authorities and specific targets for single young adults in local housing market assessments.

Senedd members should also spend more on climate investment and provide more support for the sector’s workforce, it said, warning that soaring energy prices and tight public finances were “outpacing delivery” on Wales’ existing decarbonisation targets. 

It called for “multi-year funding certainty so programmes can plan efficiently and deliver at pace across tenures”, as well as greater investment in Welsh skills and local supply chains.