More than 4.4 million households in the UK now rent from a private landlord but many believe there is a lack of regulation in the sector.

The government has now started to address this by creating a guide for prospective renters. This will contain information about renting property and how to make a claim if something goes wrong.

Housing minister Brandon Lewis said this would help create a secure market for renters without the need for any government legislation.

The new guidance gives advice on building an effective court case, should the need arise. This includes recording how a bad landlord has caused problems for the tenant and covers a number of areas.

Lewis said he was eager to crack down on poor practice in the private rented sector.

“We’re determined to create a bigger, better private rented sector that meets the needs of tenants and landlords well into the future, and encourages investment along the way,” he said.

“The measures we’ve taken give tenants the information and confidence they need to rent, allows the vast majority of landlords to provide a good service to continue doing so and are enabling developers to build specifically for private rent.

“But they also mean we’re also rooting out the minority of rogue landlords who blight the lives of their tenants, providing peace of mind for people seeking a place to call home.”