Rogue landlords should be subject to nationwide banning orders to prevent them from letting substandard properties to vulnerable tenants, and a new kite mark should be developed to show when a rented home is up to scratch, according to a report by MPs and peers.

With the number of homes let by private landlords now greater than the UK’s social rented sector, the all-party parliamentary group for the private rented sector said the regulatory system governing property investors needed a full review to determine if it was fit for purpose.

It set out a number of measures it said the government should consider, including the introduction of a national licence for landlords, more training for those letting properties, and nationwide banning orders, similar to those used for company directors, to prevent those breaking the law from continuing to operate as landlords.

The group's report, entitled ‘Creating a better private rented sector’, also recommended that the government create a single guide for tenants on renting a property, including a checklist of questions they should ask, and that landlords should provide details of the utility bills associated with the property they are renting.