Four in 10 tenants are said to be stuck with a landlord who will refuse to repair their problem-ridden properties, research has revealed.
The findings from the HomeOwners' Alliance highlights that tenants are being left in damp, cold properties with a landlord who is unwilling to carry out basic maintenance and repairs.
The research also reveals that three in five tenants say they will never be able to afford their own home and will be left renting their home.
The chief executive of the Alliance, Paula Higgins, said: "Most tenants living in rental accommodation want to buy a home, but most think it's a pipe dream.
'Landlords are reluctant to maintain their homes'
"It's also a disgrace that so many people live in rental homes are putting up with cold, damp properties and that landlords are reluctant to maintain their homes to a required standard."
The findings also highlight that one in five tenants say they are worried that their rental home does not meet safety or fire standards.
One in 10 tenants say they have also been evicted from a property without reasonable cause and 35% say they've had to pay expensive charges for inventory checks and references.
In addition, 16% say they've had to pay for unreasonable rent increases.
The Alliance research also highlights that 40% of the tenants they questioned supported the ban on tenant fees and 35% say they would like the option of a longer tenancy.
Highest number of BTL products ever available
Meanwhile, the number of buy to let products that are available to landlords and investors has risen to its highest since 2007's financial crisis, data reveals.
The findings from MoneyFacts highlights there are now 2,396 buy to let products available now - that's a 21% increase since June last year. In contrast, the number of products available for residential property buying has fallen sharply.
The data also highlights that the average BTL market rate has risen over the past year with an average two-year fixed rate growing from 2.8% to 3.05%.
A financial expert with the platform, Darren Cook, said: "Product competition is continuing to grow in this specialised mortgage area.
"Over the past 12 months, there's been a 21% increase in the availability of products which indicates that providers are keen to offer potential BTL investors lots of choice."
He added that the largest concentration of product choice is aimed at the maximum 75% LTV tier.
