Letter to the Courier in response to "A mum's experience"

I write to support G Rosen, Courier 27th January. The greed in the private landlord sector was brought home to me last year, when I looked at a few properties to rent. One was of particular note, as the landlord would not give me an answer as to whether he would ask us to leave when the students came back. The rent was £600 per month, though he could make substantially more with student tenants. My belief was that he was just wanted extra cash and given that he would not move the 1970s wardrobes and desks out of each room, was an indication to me that we would be just a temporary cash boost. The state of the property was also a disgrace. All the downstairs rooms were bedrooms, leaving an unheated lean-to as a room to socialise. Out of a three-bedroom family home, he had made five bedrooms with one bathroom and a dilapidated kitchen. These actions not only force students to live in unpleasant conditions, but decrease the supply of housing that we desperately need and there-by push up the cost of a roof over your head. There is nothing wrong in renting out your house, but a little moral and ethical consideration should be part of your business practice, or the labels of greed will increasingly be pinned to the sector. Planning committee please take note.

Paul Bell