A Labour government would cap private-sector rent rises and abolish letting fees for tenants, Ed Miliband has pledged.

Speaking at the launch of Labour’s EU and local election campaign in Redbridge, north-east London yesterday, Mr Miliband outlined a package of housing reforms, including legislating to make three-year tenancies the norm.

The opposition leader said that housing costs were “one of the biggest causes of the cost of living crisis” and warned many face “terrible insecurity” at the hands of unscrupulous landlords.