A new rental complaints system has been proposed to help support private tenants who are forced to live in shoddy housing and squalid conditions, the government has announced.

In the private rented sector, there is currently no obligation for landlords to register with a complaints system. But the plans unveiled over the weekend by the housing secretary, Sajid Javid, aims to create a simple and effective complaints system that allows disputes to be resolved faster and consumers to access compensation where applicable.

Naming and shaming rogue landlords and homebuilders, as well as the introduction of a single housing ombudsman are among some of the options currently being considered.

An eight-week consultation on a new scheme to crack down on rogue landlords renting out overcrowded and dangerous homes is now underway.

Javid said: “For too long, tenants and homeowners have navigated multiple complaints procedures to resolve disputes about everyday household repairs and maintenance.

“Fixing this housing crisis is about more than just building homes, it’s ensuring people have the answers available when something goes wrong.”