New measures to encourage longer fixed-term, family-friendly tenancies and raise standards in the private rented sector have been announced by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

Tenants will be able to request longer tenancies that will provide ‘stability for their family, avoid hidden fees when renting a home and demand a fair deal from their landlords and letting agents’.

Pickles said the government is determined to match support for home ownership with steps to improve the rental market, without strangling the sector with unnecessary rules and red tape.

A new package of measures will ensure sensible reforms are made to the sector, so tenants can get the best deal when they rent a home. A model tenancy agreement, should set out the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords, and provide the rental market with an industry benchmark for written tenancy agreements.

• the model agreement will ensure families can benefit from longer tenancies, without changing the existing legal framework for the rental market
• longer tenancies will give families greater certainty and security, especially for those with children at school, and reduce costs for both tenants and landlords who will not have to pay letting agents to arrange frequent contract renewals
• tenants will be able to access better information so they know the types of tenancies they can request

Pickles added: “The private rented market is a vital asset to this country, and plays an important role providing flexible accommodation for those who do not want to buy, or are saving up for a deposit.

“The last thing we want to do is hurt hard-working tenants by increasing costs and strangling the sector with red tape. But families deserve stability for their children, and all tenants deserve a good and transparent service from their landlords and lettings agents.

“These proposals will raise the quality and choice of rental accommodation, root out the cowboys and rogue operators in the sector, and give tenants the confidence to request longer fixed-term, family-friendly tenancies that meet their needs.”