A PETITION to introduce rent controls in London has doubled in size in less than a day as young adults struggle to cope with the capital’s living costs, campaigners revealed yesterday.

The London Rent Cap campaign was started by 27-year-old Becky Ely and supported by social media platform 38 Degrees.

The petition saw a sudden burst in signatories, rising from a few thousand to almost 53,000 this week.

Ms Ely told the Star she started the petition because “young people and families are being priced out of the capital due to the extremely high rents.

“It is essential if we want to prevent families living in poverty.”

Polling group Survation published figures showing that a whopping 59 per cent of Britons support rent controls.

Additionally, three in every four private renters back the policy.

“Hopefully we are beginning to gain enough signatures and media coverage to get politicians to take notice and support the campaign,” added Ms Ely.

Her programme of rent caps — which demands a studio to be rented at a maximum cost of £95 a week — follows from a similar initiative held across Scotland last year.

National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland president and Scottish Living Rent campaigner Gordon Maloney said: “In Scotland we are building a movement for rent controls that can wipe away Thatcher’s renting policies for good.

“We have spoken to thousands of people on streets, doorsteps and campuses all over the country because if we want to beat the landlords, that’s what it’ll take.

“It’s clear that we’ve won the argument, everywhere from London to Edinburgh. Now we need to win the fight.”