Housing Minister Minister Brandon Lewis has said he will end the so-called "tenants' tax" under new rules that will enable councils to licence landlords in neighbourhoods blighted by poor quality accommodation.

The Minister said he wants councils to work more closely with government on larger licensing schemes to ensure that they don’t hit good landlords.

The new measures would mean councils have more freedom to introduce licensing in specific neighbourhoods within their boundaries.

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Minister 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."

The Conservative government has introduced a a £1bn 'Build to Rent' fund to provide newly-built homes specifically for private rent. £6.7m has been made available to councils across the country to tackle rogue landlords.

(IT/CD)