Families who rent from private landlords could be able to force them to bring their homes up to scratch under a new rules shake-up.
People who let out houses will now be expected to invest in making their properties better for tenants if they fall below minimum standards as part of a Government crackdown.
A new, mandatory renting register will also come into force, with landlords evicted from the official list if they break the new guidelines.
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All tenants in the private rental sector would also gain a new right to redress for complaints about their homes.
Housing secretary Michael Gove is reportedly set to announce legislation on Wednesday that will require landlords to upgrade around 800,000 properties that don't meet requirements to be "safe, warm and in a good state of repair", according to a report in The Times.
The measures will be confirmed in the Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Spending Review in March, according to the report.
The moves, long demanded by campaigners, will bring the private rental sector into line with minimum requirements on council and housing association properties.
Other measures being reviewed include tougher energy efficiency standards and a minimum standard of fixtures and fittings for furnished accommodation.
Official figures suggest that 4.4 million families rent their home from a private landlord, representing 19% of all households in England.
The shake-up means that private rented homes will now have to abide by the Decent Homes Standard, which before now has only applied to social housing.
Under this standard, homes must be in a reasonable state of repair, have modern facilities and services, and have a reasonable level of insulation and heating in place.
Around 34% of private rented homes are classed as "non-decent" in the North and Midlands compared to only 17% in the South East
Mr Gove estimated the new rules will see 800,000 rented homes undergo improvements to hit this standard by 2030, slashing the number of poor quality home in half.
Mr Gove said: "Our mission to regenerate and level up the nation must include a radical re-think of what we expect from home providers.
“No-one should have to live in a substandard home, regardless of the tenure, so our priority is to create a fairer private and social rented sector for everyone.”
It is not clear whether there will be penalties in place should landlords fail to improve their properties - or if renters could get compensation as a result if so.
