THOUSANDS of tenants are expected to take to the streets of London tomorrow in the largest protest for affordable housing in more than a decade.

Trade unions including Unite, the National Education Union and the Public and Commercial Services union are among some 90 organisations who have backed the National Housing Demonstration.

The Greens and Your Party have also backed housing campaigners from across the country set to demand rent controls and good-quality, accessible council homes.

London Renters Union spokesperson Elyem Chej said: “Tenants need an alternative to our rigged housing system.

“Soaring rents are pushing us into poverty and out of our neighbourhoods while corporate giants build luxury flats we can’t afford.

“Sir Keir Starmer’s government is making the housing crisis worse, cosying up to private developers and selling out our communities.

“That’s why unions and grassroots groups nationwide are uniting for housing justice on April 18. Rent controls would cut rents now and give ordinary people more control over our lives and our homes.

“We had these rights before. Now it’s time for renters to take them back.”

Defend Council Housing spokesman Martin Wicks said: “The government’s strategy of planning liberalisation and reliance on the large volume of private builders is doomed to fail.

“Home ownership is not an option for the more than 130,000 households in temporary accommodation, the 1.3 million households on the waiting lists and many more imprisoned in the expensive and often poor-quality private sector.

“Social rent council housing is key to resolving the housing crisis. The government needs to fund 100,000 social rent council homes a year and end Right to Buy.

“We need a housing policy at the service of social needs. Market mechanisms will never resolve the housing crisis.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said on Thursday that he ultimately wants to see rent controls imposed on all rented homes.

Introducing rent controls in England in areas where housing is unaffordable is the Green Party’s flagship policy for renters.

Mr Polanski said that a “patchwork model” where controls apply to some and not others would cause problems but argued the right model would stop people being left unable to afford their rent.