The government has pledged to end the so-called "tenants' tax", that is responsible for pushing up rents and imposing "unnecessary red tape on decent landlords".

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has published new rules that will enable councils to licence landlords in neighbourhoods blighted by poor quality accommodation, deprivation and high levels of crime.

The minister is hoping that councils will work more closely with the government on larger licensing schemes to ensure that they don’t unfairly hit good landlords offering a fair service.

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New proposals mean councils would have the freedom to introduce licensing in specific neighbourhoods within their boundaries – helping to ensure only rogue operators, who make up a small minority of landlords, are affected.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: "The vast majority of private landlords offer a decent service – so I’m determined we end the ‘tenants tax’ caused by draconian measures that do nothing to tackle rogue operators and only serve to push up rents.

"I want councils to take targeted action and focus their efforts on tackling that small number of landlords who make their tenants’ lives a misery – and help create a bigger, better private rented sector as a result."

(MH)