Complaints about landlords in England have risen by 27%, a housing charity has revealed.

Shelter, who made the announcement, have also revealed 62% of complaints in the last year were related to "serious and life-threatening hazards", including those involving gas, electrics and severe damp.

The statistics have come about due to freedom of information responses from 310 local authorities. Shelter submitted requests to a total of 326 English local authorities in July 2012.

Complaints rose from 67,283 to 85,639 between 2008/9 and 2011/12.

The number of successful prosecutions against private landlords rose by 77% between 2010/11 and 2011/12.

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Shelter Chief executive Campbell Robb said the amount of "rogue landlords" was still underestimated, despite the increase.

"Some local authorities don't keep records of complaints and tenants often hold back from complaining out of fear of the consequences or because they don't believe their voices will be heard, even though such a high proportion of complaints is about life-threatening issues," he said.

"Every day at Shelter we see the devastating impact these landlords have on people's health and wellbeing. There could be thousands more victims of these operators, trapped in homes that cause misery and, in some cases, put lives at risk.”

Shelter has begun a campaign called Evict Rogue Landlords. It is encouraging people to contact their council if they feel they are being neglected, or their health and safety is at risk.

Housing Minister Mark Prisk said he was "appalled by the living conditions faced by some tenants as a result of irresponsible landlords".

"Shelter's figures show that while the vast majority of tenants are happy with the service they receive, those who are suffering at the hands of rogue landlords are coming forward and complaining to their councils."

(IT/GK)