Children and families minister Claire Coutinho has told developers and social landlords to allow childminders to work from rented properties.
The Department for Education (DfE) said prospective childminders often face clauses in rental contracts or leasehold agreements that stop them working from home.
According to the DfE, the number of childminders operating in England has more than halved over the past 10 years.
It said it was ‘determined’ to reverse the trend, giving parents 'maximum choice' when the expansion of free childcare begins from April 2024.
Ms Coutinho said: ‘Too often prospective childminders are having the door slammed in their faces because they face a blanket ban on working from home.’
However, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, Ben Beadle, said landlords were not to blame.
The Government was not acknowledging the issues faced by the childcare industry or the concerns of housing providers, he added.
Mr Beadle said: ‘Mortgage lenders and insurers need to be more flexible in enabling landlords to allow childminders to operate from the properties they let. Tenancy deposits must also be allowed to reflect the greater risk of damage to properties being used for childminding.
‘We will continue to work with the Government on the difficulties and barriers landlords face in enabling tenants to become childminders but refuse to accept the blame for systemic issues in another industry.’
