GREATER regulation of the private rented sector is needed to stop vulnerable families being exploited, a North MP yesterday told Parliament.

Sedgefield’s Phil Wilson put forward legislation, saying action was needed with the sector is set to grow to around 20% of the country’s housing stock by 2020. “With proposed changes to homelessness legislation, cuts to housing and high house prices and deposits, private renting will be under increasing pressure, especially at the lower end of the market especially amongst the most vulnerable groups,” he said.

He warned accommodation was likely to be of a poorer standard, while buy-to-let lending had seen inexperienced individuals become landlords as well as “blighting” some communities.

In several ex-colliery villages in his constituency, up to half of the properties were private lets in some streets and some landlords were living abroad.

“Over the past four years I’ve had numerous cases of private landlords who have neglected their properties and their tenants. Anti-social behaviour has become a major problem,” said Mr Wilson.

He highlighted how private landlords have to sign up to special conditions and protocols in Deanbank in Ferryhill and part of Chilton in Sedgefield after they were designated selective licensing areas.

He said: “They have been successful but more needs to be done. The basic problem is not bad landlords, although there are some. There are many good landlords, but the vast majority are amateurs without the skills and wherewithal to deal with being a private landlord.”

He called for a national register to be established to help them and councils get a “handle” on the sector, not least to tackle rogue landlords and help determine the level of private lets in a given area.

Mr Wilson suggested a fee could be charged for administrative costs, with landlords paying a community levy into a local fund if their number reached a certain level – with local people deciding how that was spent.

“I believe this Bill goes some way towards redressing the balance, but in any event, hope it raises an issue which is a growing concern to many in this House, but more importantly to the people and communities we represent,” said the MP, although it is unlikely that his Ten Minute Rule Bill will make further progress in Parliament.