The Government has proposed a series of measures to improve the quality of the private rented sector, for tenants, including older tenants. 5% of people aged 65 or over in England were renting privately in 2005.

These measures include:

• Introducing a national register of every private landlord in England. Landlords will need to include their registration number on all tenancy agreements and could be removed from the register for failing to carry out essential repairs or not protecting tenants' deposits.
• Establishing an independent regulator for all lettings and managing agents.
• Setting up an improved complaints and redress procedure for tenants. If complaints are substantial and proven then landlords may be removed from the national register.
• Providing greater local authority support for good landlords.
• Changing the law to ensure that tenants have a minimum two months' notice if they have to leave their home because their landlord has been repossessed.

The Government is now consulting on these proposals and the consultation will close on 31 July 2009. More information is available at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/responseruggreview