Housing Minister Grant Shapps has promised Englands one million private sector residential landlords that the Government has no plans now to introduce new regulations into the private rented sector.

New regulations were proposed in England by the previous administration in response to the Rugg Review of the Private Rented Sector, but have now been judged by the new coalition to introduce too much additional red tape. These plans included a National Register of Landlords, regulation of letting and managing agents, and compulsory written tenancy agreements.

Shapps said: "With the vast majority of Englands three million private tenants happy with the service they receive, I am satisfied that the current system strikes the right balance between the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.

The Minister has called on councils to use the wide range of powers already at their disposal to tackle the minority of rogue landlords that fail to provide good quality accommodation and to blight some local neighbourhoods.

Local authorities also have discretionary licensing powers to tackle areas blighted by poorly managed privately rented stock.

Shapps also stated: "I make a promise to good landlords across the country: the Government has no plans to create any burdensome red tape and bureaucracy, so you are able to continue providing a service to your tenants. But for bad landlords, I am putting councils on alert to use the range of powers already at their disposal to make sure tenants are properly protected."