A politician is urging the Mayor of London to push the Government for greater controls over private sector renting powers to avoid tenants being “left to the wolves”.

Green Party London Assembly member Sian Berry says Londoners need the protection of “properly regulated” rents that “normal” wages can afford.

In Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s Housing Strategy, published in May this year, Mr Khan pledged to “consider” what rent control measures might involve in the private rented sector.

But Ms Berry wants the Mayor to go even further and take strong action to lobby the Government and push for more controls in London over private rented accommodation – allowing the mayor to implement greater rent controls.

Research by Landlord Today which was published last week showed that the average rent in London has hit £1,884 a month- more than two and a half times the UK average.

Ms Berry said: “The Mayor has promised to look at rent controls at some point, but these new rent rises show that now is the time for action.

“Too many private renters are being left to the wolves that are rogue landlords.”

In 2016 the assembly passed a motion calling for the mayor to lobby the Government to have more control over the London private rented sector.

Ms Berry said since that time there has been “significant progress”.

But she added: “Renters cannot wait. He should press harder for new powers without delay.”

“We want 70 per cent of homes in London to be affordable and as a city we really ought to have more controls over rents.

“If rents are just left to the market there will be nothing to stop rent going up I think that would be very dangerous for the needs of London workers.”

Ms Berry suggested that the type of rent controls she would like to see would include making sure rent doesn’t rise above inflation levels and putting stronger limits on rents when building new homes.

Ms Berry will be raising this issue later this week at Mayor’s Question Time where she will be questioning him on whether he has an update on any work he might have been doing aroung the issue.