Housing minister John Healey recently announced new practical help and protection for tenants in privately rented homes. The moves will help tenants find safer and better homes for rent and offer extra support if they face problems with their landlords or accommodation.

The package includes

• A new housing hotline offering free help and advice for private tenants.
• A ‘trip adviser’ style word-of-mouth website comparing landlords.
• A requirement for written tenancy agreements in all tenancies that will strengthen the hand of tenants should they face a dispute.
• Boosting the number of tenants protected under the most commonly used tenancy agreement.
• A National Register for Landlords to help tenants make basic checks on their prospective landlords.
• Better regulation of letting and managing agents, which will help tackle the rogue agents who can drag the reputation of the Private Rented Sector down.

This an unworkable scheme which will drive the bad landlords further underground.

How can we, as landlords protect ourselves from malicious comments from tenants?