It can take more than a year to prosecute a rogue operator and in many cases paltry fines are handed out to criminal landlords.

In a new phase to the crackdown on rogue operators, ministers are proposing to amend legislation to give the power to impose fines on wrongdoers.

There has been growing concern about the practice, which has drawn many complaints about rogue operators.

The regulator will also cap the cost of calling an 09 number to prevent rogue operators from stinging consumers for extremely high charges.

Dignity says that it welcomes regulation, which should drive out rogue operators, but it has had to put some of its developments on hold pending the outcome.