A WELSH Government shake-up of the housing sector could see private landlords effectively needing a licence to let out properties.

Ministers in Cardiff Bay announced the measure as part of a drive to cut homelessness rates as well as improve conditions in rented houses.

One way government officials hope to achieve this is getting landlords to sign a mandatory register before they can take on tenants.

Housing minister Huw Lewis said making sure people had an affordable home in good condition was essential.

The Labour AM set out the changes in a White Paper, which revealed details of a “fit and proper person’’ test for people renting out properties. It read: “Accreditation will secure full registration status, which is effectively a licence to operate as a private landlord in Wales.’’ The number of homes rented from private landlords in Wales has doubled in the past decade to around 182,000. The White Paper, a precursor to a newHousing Bill, described the private rented sector as having “extremes’’ of both good and bad practice.

While it acknowledges the existence of good landlords, it mentions that some tenants suffer due to less than reputable operators.

However, The Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru said “too few homes’’ were being built.