On behalf of Generation Rent, Survation polled 1,009 people on 18th and 19th December about rent controls.

The full question put was:

In recent years rents have been rising faster than average wages in the UK. Some people support a system of “rent control” where the government limits the rate at which rents can increase, arguing this would make renting more affordable for tenants. Other people oppose “rent control”, arguing this would lead to shortages of properties landlords were willing to rent.
Would you support or oppose proposals for the government in introduce a “rent control” system in the UK?

59% told Survation they backed rent controls with only 7% of people in opposition. 34% had no opinion.
Rent controls were popular with the supporters of all political parties with 55% of Conservative supporters backing such a measure and 58% of UKIP supporters. 69% and 70% of current Labour and LibDem supporters backed controls.
While rent controls were predictably popular with private sector tenants, receiving the backing of 77%, there was a high level of endorsement from homeowners, 56% of whom backed the measure.

Commenting on the findings, Generation Rent Director Alex Hilton said:

“The high level of support from home owners indicates concern and sympathy from an older generation for a largely younger generation condemned by high house prices to a lifetime of rent slavery. Private sector renters are now spending upwards of 40% of their incomes on rent”.

“By supporting rent control, politicians have an opportunity to do something that will have real, beneficial impact to millions of people while at the same time saving the taxpayer money through the Housing Benefit bill, £9 billion of which goes straight into the pockets of private sector landlords”

Full data tables for this poll can be found here.