Property inspections should be carried out at least twice a year. However, higher-frequency checks are recommended for high-traffic rental types such as HMOs.

The warning comes amid a highly competitive rental market with data from Zoopla showing that there are now an average of 12 renters chasing every available home to rent.

Despite the huge increase in monthly costs, Rightmove estimates that average payments are still £155 lower than their peak in July 2023.

The Chancellor's plans for growth will fail unless the supply of rental homes is increased to match rising demand.

Newly released data has highlighted an ongoing shortage of homes to rent in the PRS.

The National Residential Landlords Association has highlighted the pressures councils are already under ahead of the Renters' Rights Bill.

The number of households in the private rented sector at risk of homelessness due to landlords selling up has increased by a third since the end of last year.

Plans for a database of private rented properties risk providing little help to tenants unless it includes meaningful information, warn landlords.

Concerns are rising over the sale of counterfeit CO alarms during Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (18-24th November)

Decisions made in last month's Autumn Statement will further stifle supply in the rental market, according to the landlord association.