Landlord bashing

SIR – Private landlords in the buy-to-let industry are constantly criticised by Left-wing politicians and action groups such as Shelter. However, until a tragedy such as the death two-year old Awaab Ishak from mould in flat occurs (report, November 24), they seem to ignore the terrible conditions suffered by tenants in some council housing, accommodation and housing association blocks.

We private landlords know how bad it is because we are regularly approached by social-housing tenants seeking accommodation in the private sector. This is despite the fact that our rents are often 25 per cent greater than the social-housing sector.

Private landlords are not paid £250,000 a year, with a guaranteed 75 per cent pension when we retire, as some of the chief executives in the social sector apparently are.

Conditions in the private sector are regulated by law, and that law is vigorously enforced by local councils. If a private tenant doesn’t like his or her house or flat they can move. This is not possible in social housing because of long waiting lists for affordable accommodation with assisted rent levels, which are paid for by taxpayers. Sadly, it took the death of Awaab to bring these anomalies to a head. Roger Bell

Lymington, Hampshire