We need local politicians to support the National Housing Demonstration on Saturday 18 April who will champion our demands for rent controls and council housing development.
The upcoming local elections on 7 May make this a crucial time to get councillors and candidates to show their commitment to helping solve the housing crisis.
Use our template letters to send to candidates standing in the local elections, asking them to join us at the National Housing Demonstration, and to use their platform to help make affordable housing a reality in Southwark!
If a councillor or candidate responds to you, we’d love to hear about it, so please let us know by emailing us at privaterenters@citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk.
Use this letter to contact current councillors. You can find the councillors in your area by entering your postcode here.
Will you support the National Housing Demonstration?
Dear Councillor [Councillor Name],
I’m writing as a [Ward] resident to ask you to support a growing national campaign calling for rent controls and mass investment in council housing, and to invite you to join us at a national housing demonstration in central London on Saturday 18 April.
This is a crucial moment for renters. The Renters’ Rights Act marks a significant and welcome shift in the balance of power between tenants and landlords. However, without meaningful limits on rent, these extortionate costs will continue to force tenants into financial hardship, poverty, or even homelessness.
Not only can rent controls bring more security to thousands of renters in Southwark, they’ve been shown to mitigate the effects of gentrification, reduce homelessness and support local economies – as well as improving finances for local authorities.
At the same time, the need for council housing has never been greater. Despite nearly 23,000 households on Southwark’s housing register, recent developments and planning applications in our borough have seen social housing requirements watered down to the bare minimum. Many renters are desperate for a suitable council home, but are losing hope waiting on the housing register, trapped in overcrowded, unsafe and expensive properties.
This is why our campaign pairs rent controls with a second urgent demand: mass investment in council housing. We need the council to push for powers and resources necessary to deliver the homes our communities so clearly need.
As a councillor, your leadership is vital. I’m therefore asking you to:
- Publicly support the introduction of rent controls and mass investment in council housing
- Push for Southwark Council to adopt and promote these demands, including by lobbying the GLA and national government
- Join us at the national housing demonstration on 18 April.
This is an opportunity to stand alongside your constituents and be part of a movement for a fairer, more secure housing system.
I would be grateful to hear your thoughts on this, and how you would seek to support the campaign further if elected.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Use this letter to contact candidates who are standing for election. You can find candidates in your area by entering your postcode here.
*The full list of candidates will be published after Thursday 9 April 2026*
Will you support the National Housing Demonstration?
Dear [Candidate Name],
I’m writing as a [Ward] resident to ask you to support a growing national campaign calling for rent controls and mass investment in council housing, and to invite you to join us at a national housing demonstration in central London on Saturday 18 April.
This is a crucial moment for renters. The Renters’ Rights Act marks a significant and welcome shift in the balance of power between tenants and landlords. However, without meaningful limits on rent, these extortionate costs will continue to force tenants into financial hardship, poverty, or even homelessness.
Not only can rent controls bring more security to thousands of renters in Southwark, they’ve been shown to mitigate the effects of gentrification, reduce homelessness and support local economies – as well as improving finances for local authorities.
At the same time, the need for council housing has never been greater. Despite nearly 23,000 households on Southwark’s housing register, recent developments and planning applications in our borough have seen social housing requirements watered down to the bare mininmum. Many renters are desperate for a suitable council home, but are losting hope waiting on the housing register, trapped in overcrowded, unsafe and expensive properties.
This is why our campaign pairs rent controls with a second urgent demand: mass investment in council housing. We need our future councillors to push for powers and resources necessary to deliver the homes our communities so clearly need.
As a candidate standing for election in [Ward], I’m asking you to:
- Publicly support the introduction of rent controls and mass investment in council housing
- Join us at the national housing demonstration on 18 April.
This is an opportunity to stand alongside your community to be part of a movement for a fairer, more secure housing system.
I would be grateful to hear your thoughts on this, and how you would seek to support the campaign further if elected.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Make sure you’ve registered to vote to take part in the local elections on Thursday 7 May 2026! The deadline to register is 20 April 2026.
