Here, Brighton and Hove councillor Tehmtan Framroze writes in support of a new registration scheme for landlords of rented rooms and flats.

The scheme, which applies to homes in multiple occupation, has been attacked by landlords as unfair and unworkable.

But the city council says it will improve tenants' lot. Coun Framroze explains why:

Brighton and Hove has introduced a city-wide registration scheme for houses in multiple occupation in the private rented sector.

The Government strongly recommended to the city council it should introduce the scheme to give it broader powers for safety, and in preparation for licensing.

Standards, which apply to houses in multiple occupation, are not new.

They have been in existence since the council was created in 1997 and brought together Brighton Council and Hove Council standards into a single code.

The only change is that from this month landlords have a duty to register their HMOs (houses of multiple occupation) and they have to provide documents such as gas safety certificates.

The abridged version of the Southern Private Landlords' Association code of practice states landlords must comply with the law and all local authority requirements.

It also says they must ensure there is no overcrowding.

The council would like to continue to work with landlords and tenants to improve standards.

It is puzzled the association is campaigning against the introduction of the Government-approved registration scheme in Brighton and Hove.

The council issues about three or four overcrowding notices each year and there is no evidence, based on other authorities which have introduced HMO registration, that this will increase.

The council staff in private sector housing have always had a flexible and pragmatic approach and wish to see all accommodation fully used, when it can be, safely and sensibly.

Landlords who have concerns should discuss them with Karin Divall, head of Private Sector Services.

The council will not make anyone homeless as a result of registration, in the same way as it has never made anyone homeless as a result of serving an overcrowding notice.

The purpose of the scheme is to advance the interests of tenants, not reduce them, and improve the tenants' quality of life.

A Private Member's Bill which Brighton Kemp Town MP Des Turner is progressing highlights energy efficiency in HMOs and includes a clause which would oblige local authorities to introduce an HMO Registration Scheme.

The definition of HMO in the draft of the Bill may include more properties than the city council's scheme.

As drafted, the Bill is compatible with our registration scheme.

Our recent survey on the conditions of houses showed the lowest energy efficiency rating in private rented housing.

It reflected the poorer heating systems and particularly the reliance on room heaters.

Forty-one per cent of private tenants have gas room heaters, off-peak storage heaters and oil heaters.

This compares to 98 per cent of owner-occupiers who benefit from central heating as opposed to having to use isolated fires.

Landlords now have a duty to register their HMOs as they already do in most London and unitary authorities.

Environmental health officers for the first time will be requiring landlords to provide certificates of gas and electrical safety and to show their furniture complies with fire safety standards.

The council will ensure houses which have been complained about because of poor conditions and poor fire escapes will be registered.

The idea behind it is to make sure tenants are safer.

It will also protect tenants who may have been reluctant to complain about poor conditions because of fear of their landlord.

The register of HMOs will be public and tenants will be able to check if their home meets the minimum standards.

Reasonable requests by landlords for more time to register or for variations in the standards will be negotiated by the council.

The aim is for a gradual improvement in the conditions of HMOs.

The scheme does not include property owned by universities or leased, shared houses lived in by groups of students or houses where an owner has one or two lodgers.

The council recently piloted a trial registration scheme in the Bloomsbury and Burlington area.

It was pleased at the improvements in the rented HMOs and the co-operation given by landlords.

Tenants welcomed the improvements generated by this initiative and no homelessness was created by it.

In support of the registration scheme and the requirement for landlords to effectively manage their HMOs, the council has employed a special needs housing officer, who will work with landlords and tenants where there is antisocial behaviour.

This is a new post and was developed following discussion with the Southern Private Landlords Association.

The council's housing advice team is available to talk to any landlords.

An explanatory note for tenants setting out their rights and responsibilities is available to any landlord who would like a copy.

We have been working with a number of good landlords and agents and hope shortly to produce a model tenancy agreement to be made available to landlords under the scheme.

Good landlords, and there are many, should have few problems with implementing its conditions.

This scheme will at last give the council the powers to protect tenants more effectively from bad landlords and should be welcomed and supported by the public-spirited people of Brighton and Hove.

For more information, contact private sector services at Hove Town Hall or phone 01273 293153.