TENANTS will be granted the power to “hold the worst landlords to account” under new measures in a Bill that was unanimously approved at its third Commons reading today.

Labour MP Karen Buck highlighted that many of her constituents  suffered mentally and physically from living in poor housing, including one who had been left “suicidal.”

The Westminster North MP said that her Homes (Fitness For Human Habitation and Liability For Housing Standards) Bill is designed to improve the rented housing sector and will enable tenants to take action to require standards are improved.

She said: “Many landlords take their responsibilities seriously, but still a million households across the private and social sectors are forced to endure conditions which harm them or pose a serious risk of harm.

“The effect of the Bill is that the tenant will be able to take action against the landlord to make them put right any problems or hazards that make their dwelling unfit and the tenant can seek compensation when the landlord hasn’t done so.”

Shadow housing minister Jim McMahon welcomed the Bill, which will next go to the Lords.

He said: “Let’s be absolutely clear, if you cannot make profit by providing a clean and safe place for people to live, exit the game completely.”

Emma Dent Coad, Labour MP for Kensington where Grenfell Tower still stands, spoke about “Dickensian” social housing situations across Britain.

She said: “Poor housing is damaging health and sometimes killing my constituents and they have had until now no legal redress.”

Housing minister Heather Wheeler said that the government “strongly supports this Bill.”

The Tory government has previously blocked the Bill twice since Ms Buck tabled it in 2015 – on one occasion MP and landlord Philip Davies talked it out in a filibustering speech, while MPs voted it down on another.