Tory Brandon Lewis dismissed his own supporters’ calls for rent controls yesterday, despite evidence that the majority back state action to stop landlords’ profiteering.

The blinkered Housing Minister said placing limits on prices was “the last thing” his government wanted to do because it would reduce “choice” for tenants.

But the Conservative’s claims flew in the face of new evidence that the majority of homeowners support controls — including over half of the party’s own voters.

Research by pollsters Survation revealed that 55 per cent of Tory voters back rent controls, as well as 58 per cent of Ukip supporters.

Around 70 per cent of Labour and Lib Dem voters were in a favour.

Only one person opposed controls for every nine who supported them.

Generation Rent director Alex Hilton, whose organisation commissioned the research, said the findings reflected “concern and sympathy from an older generation for a largely younger generation condemned by high house prices to a lifetime of rent slavery.

“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.”

The call was backed by Left Economics Advisory Panel co-ordinator Andrew Fisher, who said: “At a time when evictions of tenants are at a record high, this survey demonstrating people’s basic decency should give Labour the confidence to be bolder in its proposals and put the right to a home above the right to make excessive profits.

“It’s heartening that even a majority of Tory voters think the government should regulate rents. It’s time to end the free market in housing.”

News of public backing for rent controls came as think tank Civitas warned that taxpayer subsidies to private landlords via the housing benefit bill are set to top £10 billion within three years.

It also reported that a growing housing shortage has seen the number of private renters mushroom from 722,000 in 2003-4 to 1.7 million last year.