The Lib Dems are to debate the private rented sector, including high rents, at its party conference and are likely to call for the licensing of all letting agents and private landlords.

The conference on September 26 will discuss a motion called ‘decent homes for all’.

The motion notes that failure to build enough new homes is making houses more and more unaffordable and driving rents higher, and says that too many tenants are suffering at the hands of bad landlords.

The motion calls for more protection for private tenants, including longer tenancies and access to a housing ombudsman.  

The motion says that a national licensing system should be set up for all managing agents, and that private landlords should either be licensed nationally or local authorities should have more powers to set up their own licensing schemes.