The association representing landlords has called for new property passports to help landlords prove their homes are compliant and tenants identify decent and safe housing.

Property passports, an idea put forward by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), would certify that a property met all legal standards and it would list improvements made to properties, along with copies of all safety certificates.

Tenants would be able to access the passport online, the NRLA said, and local authorities would be able to conduct spot checks to verify the passport is a true record of the state of the property.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA said about property passports: ‘We want to make it easier for the vast majority of compliant landlords to prove to tenants what they already do, namely providing decent and safe housing. Those who do not would have no option other than to shape up or ship out.’