Capping rents will hit social housing safety efforts in England, say landlords

G15 group of big housing associations warn 5% cap would also hinder green ambitions and new-builds

Efforts to make social housing safer, greener and more livable will be significantly delayed if ministers cap rent rises at 5% next year, according to landlords who fear the move would cost them 3.5bn over the next decade.

Projects to make housing blocks safe after the Grenfell Tower disaster are among those that will be slowed down, according to a coalition of housing associations based in London, if the proposed plan to protect millions of England's poorest households from soaring rents is confirmed.