The government has announced plans to limit the amount by which social landlords can raise rents to just 5% next year, despite double-digit cost inflation, in a move the sector has described as “very concerning”.

The government last night published a consultation on three options for limiting rent rises in the next financial year to increases of either 3%, 5% or 7% in order to help tenants hit by rising costs, with 5% chosen as its “draft” preferred level.

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