Open-ended tenancies are already the norm in European countries including Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden, and were introduced for renters in Scotland in 2017.

These contracts mean that renting is not seen as a risky option for families in those countries, with people often renting the same property for many years or even most of their lives. Most tenancies in Germany are indefinite and last 11 years on average, compared to 2.5 years in the UK.

The Independent notes that many of those countries also have much stronger tenants’ rights than the UK, where renters can usually be kicked out by landlords with just two months’ notice.

The Resolution Foundation is also calling for the introduction of a three-year cap on rent increases, which would not be allowed to rise by more than the consumer price index, and for the government to tax foreign investors in rented property more heavily.

“Britain’s housing problems have developed into a full-blown crisis over recent decades and young people are bearing the brunt,” said Lindsay Judge, senior policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation.

“If we want to tackle Britain’s ‘here and now’ housing crisis we have to improve conditions for the millions of families living in private rented accommodation. That means raising standards and reducing the risks associated with renting through tenancy reform and light touch rent stabilisation.”

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