The Government has launched yet another review into the property sector, this time on overhauling health and safety standards for rental accommodation.

A statement from the Ministry of Housing said that under current rules, councils are required to ensure rental properties in their area meet important safety standards using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and are able to force landlords to take action where tenants are languishing in unsafe accommodation.

However, this has not been updated in more than 12 years, so a new review will also look at whether to introduce minimum standards for common health and safety problems in rental accommodation to keep renters safe.

Heather Wheeler, housing minister, said: “Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their own home.

“These reviews will allow us to revisit the current systems for health and safety ratings and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure that both are fit for purpose and meeting the needs of tenants.

“By looking again at these rules, we can make sure that they are working as they should to keep people safe and give them peace of mind in their homes.”

Landlords backed the review.

David Smith, policy director for the Residential Landlords Association, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to review the safety standards around rented housing which the RLA has long called for.

“The current system has not been updated for 12 years with the guidance alongside it equally out of date.

“This review provides an important opportunity to improve enforcement against the minority of landlords who bring the sector into disrepute and fail to provide the safe accommodation they should.”

It comes as MPs passed the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill last week, giving tenants powers to take their landlord to court over poor housing.

The Bill will now go to the House of Lords for consideration.