Brighton's high rents are forcing people out on low wages and should be capped, Keziah Hall (main image), local chairman of pressure group Acorn, told the BBC.
Ms Hall, who struggled to find a new home after being evicted this summer, said the high rents were due to the large number of students and commuters attracted to Brighton's “London by the Sea” reputation, who were looking for second homes. They blame the owners. 
Forced removal
She said the cap on rent benefits is £1,200 a month and the average rent in Brighton is £1,675, making it impossible for low-wage workers such as bus drivers and service industry workers to find housing. As a result, they were “forced out.”
We do not advise landlords on what their rent should generally be. ”
When BBC Radio Sussex asked her what to do about it, she suggested a rent cap, adding: “We generally don't advise landlords on what rents should be.” . She thinks that cap “should be something like a living wage.”
Acorn is not alone in calling for rent caps. As reported in The Neg, calls for this are also growing in Brighton and Bristol, where the Green Party has a strong presence and is supporting protests.
And in Brighton, the Living Rent Campaign recently launched a petition signed by 1,800 people calling on the new Labor government to push councilors to cap or freeze rents.
Acorn defines itself as a community union that leverages people power to demand change on issues that matter.
