• WE would be very pleased if Camden Council was able to identify every property owned by a private landlord that was clad in “unsafe materials and was found to have unsafe windows” and to bring “repair orders against them”, (The Chalcots should fight this rogue landlord – the council, March 22).

However, the simple reality is that Camden, like all local authorities across the country, is facing huge cuts in its funding and is struggling to “police” a private rented sector that is growing in size all the time and now covers over one-third of households in the borough.

We would also be interested to see any evidence that the letter writer Alison Harris has to back up the assertion that the “private landlord is understandably selling up” due to a “heavy-handed approach” by the local authority, because from our experience the “heavy-handed approach” is often landlord speak for a local authority merely carrying out its enforcement duties.

Again, the simple reality is that the rental business is far too good for private landlords in Camden to leave the market, and increasing numbers of them are now resorting to the likes of Airbnb and similar websites to make a quick, and even bigger, buck from short-term holiday lets.

Also, if they do decide to sell up then they will make a very nice profit from any property they own as prices in ever-popular Camden are always on the rise, so they win either way.

Finally Alison Harris raises a very important point about “accountability” and we would ask the question who are private landlords and letting agents accountable to? The sad answer is nobody but themselves and that’s why the private rented sector is currently not fit for purpose and needs to be radically changed.

ROBERT TAYLOR
Camden Federation of Private Tenants
Malden Road, NW5