Review of private rentals
The government has launched a review of the private rental sector in England, which it hopes will improve conditions for landlords and tenants.
Researchers will examine the quality of rental properties, and assess the impact of the increase in buy-to-let investors and student tenants.
The review will also consider the possible effect of demographic changes.
The government has already introduced a scheme to guarantee tenants' deposits, and boosted rights to demand repairs.
'Vital provider'
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said tenants in England rented almost 2.6 million homes from over half a million private landlords.
But a report from Citizens Advice published last year found that a fifth of tenants were dissatisfied with the quality of repairs carried out by their landlord.
Many said they feared retaliatory action if they complained to authorities.
At the same time landlords have reported problems with poor tenants not paying rent and anti-social behaviour.
"Most of us have rented a flat or house at some stage in our lives and the private rented sector is, at its best, a vital provider of good housing," said housing and planning minister Yvette Cooper.
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