Housing Minister John Healey has announced new practical help and protection for tenants in privately rented homes.

The moves will help tenants find safer and better homes for rent and offer extra support if they face problems with their landlords or accommodation.

A new housing hotline will open for business by the summer to offer private tenants free practical advice when problems occur and a new 'tripadvisor' style feedback website could allow tenants to post views on their accommodation and landlord.

Plans laid in parliament to make written agreements a legal requirement for all tenancies will mean tenants are clear about their rights from the outset and information on the track record of prospective landlords in how they keep their properties up to scratch or how quickly they fix any faults will be available through a new National Landlords Register.

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Tenancy rights will be extended to more people living in shared homes on short term lets – giving extra protection to around 150,000 more people including many students and seasonal workers.

Privately rented homes provide a flexible housing option to three million households in England. But while the vast majority – three quarters – of tenants say they are satisfied with their rented home many tenants can face difficulties.

The package of measures outlined in The Private Rented Sector: Professionalism and Quality: consultation responses and next steps, following on from the Rugg Review published in 2008, will ensure tenants have the information and help they need to make informed decisions about the homes they rent, legal protection and certainty about their rights and extra support to help them deal with any disputes.

Mr Healey said: "Over three million families live in private rented housing and while the majority of tenants say they’re happy with their homes and landlords many do face problems with their landlord and should have better help and protection on hand.

"Every tenant should be confident in their decision to rent as well as be clear what to expect before they sign on the dotted line.

"That’s why I’m making information about the track record of landlords available to everyone and written tenancy agreements will mean all tenants are clear about their rights from the outset.

"Extending protections to more shared homes an estimated 150,000 more people on short term lets will also have tenancy rights for the first time. But if things do go wrong a new housing hotline will mean tenants have somewhere to turn for help and advice."

(CD/GK)