New controls needed (From York Press)

New controls needed

9:51am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in Letters By Reader's letter

I SUPPORT letters recently sent to The Press highlighting the numbers of people who could be made homeless when the latest benefits cuts are implemented.

Much has been made by the Government’s spin doctors about the huge amounts of money paid to people living in the private rented sector.

However, it seems to have escaped notice that the real recipients of these ever-growing amounts of taxpayers’ money are not the tenants in the private market, but the landlords, agents and other bodies who, following Margaret Thatcher’s disastrous policy of selling off social housing, have jumped on to this lucrative area of investment.

Last week, in response to a request for legislation to control conditions in the private rented areas, David Cameron opposed the notion because he said “this would lead to a lowering of standards”.

Yes, there are good standards to be found in the private rented sector, but only if you pay a higher rent than a comparable mortgage repayment.

There are many more sub-standard properties where three or four young people share a property paying more than £1,000 a month in rental charges, plus other charges.

Controls are urgently needed, in conjunction with the provision of more social housing.

Liz Edge, Parkside Close, York.