Secretary of State for Communities James Brokenshire wants to name and shame bad landlords by allowing tenants to look at their convictions before they sign a rental agreement.

He feels tenants in England should know if they are heading for trouble by moving into a home rented out by a rogue landlord who has faced housing offences in a court.

To see their name listed on the roll of shame, a landlord must had a banning order against their name under 14 serious housing offences, which range from unfair harassment to ignoring licence conditions for shared houses or they must have received two or more civil penalties for a banning order offence.

“This database has the potential to ensure that poor quality homes are improved and the worst landlords are banned and it is right that we unlock this crucial information for new and prospective tenants,” said Brokenshire.

“Landlords should be in no doubt that they must provide decent homes or face the consequences.”

Brokenshire wants to know what tenants and property professionals about extending the number of offences needed to qualify for a database listing.

“A small number of rogue landlords and property agents who knowingly flout their legal obligations and rent out substandard accommodation,” says the consultation document.

“We are committed to rebalancing the relationship between tenants and landlords to deliver a fairer, more affordable and better quality private rented sector.

“The database is designed to help local authorities target their enforcement action against the very worst landlords who wilfully flout the law and neglect their responsibilities to provide safe and decent accommodation.

“The database enables local authorities to share information about criminal landlords and is especially useful where they are operating across local authority boundaries.”

The consultation closes on October 12, 2019.

Read the consultation document