THE compulsory licensing scheme for landlords across Oxford (Oxford Mail, July 31), does not go far enough if it is only restricted to Houses of Multiple Occupation.

This only opens ways for the scheme to be abused.

What safeguards will there be to protect tenants from unscrupulous landlords who could change furnishings after inspection?

This could lead to a new form of ‘Rachmanism’ where tenants will be afraid to speak out or lodge a complaint.

I personally feel that all landlords – and this includes individuals, agents, colleges and other institutions who let out any property, whether they be houses, flats, rooms or residences outside college precincts – should be required to have these properties licensed if they are ‘let’ as furnished accommodation.

The licence fee could be based on the number of bedrooms with a requirement that the licence be displayed in the hallway of a house or flat, and fixed to doors of bedrooms in multi-occupation units.

A set of rules stating minimum standards should be made available to both parties and, in the case of houses and flats, the responsibility of keeping the premises clean, free of rubbish and general maintenance, should lie with the landlord.

The threat of a licence being revoked should make landlords take more care of their properties and will, I am sure, lead to better relations with the community.

The rules should be straightforward with no ‘exceptions’ as this leads to grey areas which could be exploited.

The scheme promoted at the moment is ‘half-baked’ with responsible landlords having to bear the cost of greedy, unscrupulous landlords.

If changes are not made I can see the administration of the scheme getting so unwieldy that the council taxpayer will be hit.

VIM RODRIGO, Rivermead Road, Rose Hill, Oxford