Landlords will be banned from evicting tenants during the coronavirus “national emergency” after the government rushed through legislation to help renters who may face financial difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Tenants in England will have more powers to hold landlords who rent out substandard properties to account later this month as the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act comes into force.

The government has been urged to implement pro-private rental sector policies in April’s Budget in order to promote long term investment in the private rental sector and reduce costs for tenants.

Short-term lets do not impact negatively on the traditional lettings market, according to the short-term lets industry, despite warnings the market was “out of control.”

The Housing Secretary has called on landlords to “open their doors” to tenants with pets as he announced an overhaul of the current tenancy contract model to make it easier for animal-loving tenants to find homes.