I’VE just read an article in our Daily Echo entitled ‘More landlords face crackdown’ and I’ve learnt that already 2,000 licences have been issued for shared homes in Bevois, Bargate, Portswood and Swaythling areas of the city.

These licences are issued to landlords for passing safety rules for residents of rented out properties.

The fees charged are based on how many residents are in the properties – i.e., four, six etc – and one owner was fined £36,000 for not passing the safety rules. Happy days for the council!

So, why can’t the council, who always need money, introduce a new scheme for the landlords? Southampton can only gain by this, and all of us could enjoy living wherever we do.

Fine the landlords if their tenants do not adhere to certain rules (they could sign for this).

For example do not leave dustbins out on pavements after collection; do not allow dustbins to overflow; do not hang shredded nets or blankets at windows instead of curtains; keep gardens cut and tidy; do not leave empty bottles or cans outside or of course the landlords could do a weekly check.

Make them more responsible.

The council could use the ‘fines’ wisely for our city – maybe some more cleaners.

It is no good looking forward to our new pier area, if the rest of our city is untidy, scruffy and unclean.

Often we see adverts in the Echo for ‘clean up’ operations around Southampton.

People giving their time with others for ‘pick ups’.

Remember, visitors travel by taxi from the train station, cruise ships or the airport. First impressions count!

So please, Warwick Payne, can you please put a scheme in place, where landlords are made to keep their rented properties clean and tidy.

If not, make them pay.

J Weston, Southampton