Bizarre ban on landlords speaking about rent controls is now lifted

A Labour council which banned councillors who were landlords from contributing to a key debate has done a U-turn on legal advice.

Earlier this month Bristol councillors who were landlords were told they could not speak in a debate on rent controls. The authority was debating the issue even though it had no powers to implement such controls.

Council lawyers said at the time landlords would have a financial interest in a vote - and the same ban was extended to those councillors who were themselves private tenants.

Some 16 councillors who were also landlords were asked to leave from the chamber in Bristol City Hall when the debate was held. 

Now, however, the Labour-controlled council has made a U-turn and a new report prepared by officers pledges a four year dispensation to councillors who are landlords or private tenants.

The report says: “A number of councillors had disclosable pecuniary interest as either tenants or landlords in the [rent controls] motion, and were therefore unable to participate in the debate or vote on the motion.

“In the interests of ensuring that all relevant viewpoints can be expressed in such matters, there is a strong argument in favour of granting a dispensation to all councillors who have a disclosable pecuniary interest in land whether as an owner, landlord or tenant of public or privately owned property.”

The debate earlier this month agreed on rent controls and the creation of a rogue landlord database, although the council does not have powers to implement all of the measures.

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