The Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has called for nationwide regulation of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to include landlords as well as letting agents. In his recent Fabian Society speech Miliband stated that he wanted to see greater regulation within the PRS, including a national register of landlords, greater transparency and clarity about ‘confusing’ fees.

Miliband said: "We cannot have two nations divided between those who own their own homes and those who rent. Most people who rent have responsible landlords and rental agencies. But there are too many rogue landlords and (lettings) agencies either providing accommodation which is unfit or ripping off their tenants.

"Too many families face the doubt of a two-month notice period before being evicted. Imagine being a parent with kids settled in a local school and your family settled in your home for two, three, four years, facing that sort of uncertainty."

Miliband also pointed out that for the first time in over fifty years the private rented sector has now eclipsed the social rented sector in size and that 3.6 million households now live in privately rented homes. Much of this housing, he claims is "well below standard.”

He added: "We would introduce a national register of landlords and greater powers for local authorities to root out and strike off the rogues. We would end the confusing, inconsistent and opaque fees and charges regime, making fees easily understandable, upfront and comparable. And we will seek to remove the barriers that stand in the way of longer-term tenancies."