The Residential Landlords' Association has criticised Lancaster City Council's decision to conduct a housing survey among private rental tenants without consulting the city's landlords.

Private tenants throughout Lancaster have received a letter and questionnaire from the local authority informing them that council officers will be in their neighbourhood to inspect properties and that the tenant "may wish" to show the letter to their landlord.

The RLA - which represents landlords with more than £1.2billion worth of property and more than 30,000 tenancies across the UK - believes that the move goes against the spirit of consultation that the association has worked hard to forge with the local authority.

Lancaster and Morecambe RLA Chairman John Drinkall said: "The RLA fully supports improvement of private rented accommodation nationwide but we would prefer that surveys such as this are carried out with respect and courtesy towards landlords who actually own and run businesses via the properties the council is proposing to inspect.

"Landlords are concerned that this housing survey - which has been described by a city council officer as a 'doorstep challenge' - is a backdoor move to introduce a registration scheme for private rented properties without proper consultation with landlord and tenant groups.

"This lack of consultation is particularly puzzling because the RLA recently established constructive dialogue with the council at senior officer level in a bid to move towards improving private rented accommodation on a partnership basis.

"The RLA would like to see practical, tangible progress of that principle rather than find out that we are being kept in the dark about surveys and inspections of our properties.

"This matter was raised with the council at a meeting of accredited landlords who knew nothing about it - if the council aren't even going to consult with those landlords who are accredited what hope do we have for an open dialogue?"

Landlords who are unaware of the council's housing survey can contact Lancaster City Council Housing Standards on 01524 586807/9 or 01524 833914 or ask their own tenants if they have received the letter.

Anyone wanting more information about the RLA should visit www.rla.org.uk or call John Drinkall 01524 732657 or 01524 752991. ENDS April 2002