THE city council said it wants tenants to have access to a national list of the worst landlords in the country.

Bad landlords or property agents need to get two civil penalties from two councils within a year to be entered on the Rogue Landlords Database.

But the government is consulting on potential changes – and they include making information from the database public and adding people to them after they had committed just one offence.

Linda Smith, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for leisure and housing, said: “We welcome the government’s proposed improvements to the Rogue Landlords Database, and hope they implement all their current suggestions.

“More than 30 per cent of Oxford residents rent their house or flat privately and we want to ensure that they live in a safe home."

READ MORE: Rogue landlord fined over £15k

She added: “Expanding the database will protect tenants and ensure they do not enter into a contract with a criminal landlord or agent, and it will help maintain pressure on landlords to maintain high standards – just as happens currently with restaurants and the food hygiene rating system.”

The database was set up to cover England in 2018.

In April, an Oxford landlord was fined £25,648 for having dangerous homes.