Consider Rate is a brand new service that has been launched after an initial agreement between landlords, lettings agents and tenants to put together an accurate rating system that is transparent and fair for all parties.

The new service is being backed by Leeds Council and is seen by them as an initiative that fits well with the government's schemes to better standards within the private rented sector.

Consider Rate will first of all work with the Leeds Landlord Accreditation Scheme to put together a database made up of landlords, letting agents and tenants with details of their past rental charges.

The intention is that each group can see how their own rental performances are in comparison to their competition and for tenants to see if there are better properties  available at suitable prices, as well as showing their prospective landlords their payment history and how they have looked after their accommodation.

However this is not the only aim of the Service as it will also contain details of  the levels of service that tenants can expect over a tenancy period.

Tim Gorton, a director of Consider-Rate, said: “We developed Consider-rate after our experiences in the lettings industry, after realising that all rental parties have at some time been ‘stung’ by experience; by bad landlords, untrustworthy letting agents or non-paying/destructive tenants.

"The majority of tenants, landlords and letting agents are actually trying to do a good job – it’s actually those people that Consider-Rate is aiming to bring together – we want to minimise their risk through known performance.”