I WRITE regarding Brian Derbyshire's letter of Saturday, March 24, "Council Housing: Keep decisions close to home".

I must agree with him wholeheartedly about means testing council tenants to decide whether or not they are allowed to stay in their council homes. This is an appalling suggestion.

I do, however, take issue with him on his rather dubious assumption that the private market is failing the majority of people who want decent affordable accommodation.

Where is the proof of this weak and defective statement?

I would be very pleased for him to spend a couple of days travelling around with me visiting these so-called indecent, unaffordable and insecure homes where I have failed my tenants. He might realise that he cannot believe everything he has heard and read over 30 years ago.

The private rented sector provides about 12 per cent of all housing stock in Britain today and is the fastest provider of "affordable" housing over the past 10 years. We are also one of the most regulated service providers.

Mr Derbyshire talks about exorbitant rents but never mentions exorbitant house prices.

Housing Benefit, which is claimed by the tenant, not the landlord, is determined by a rent officer and is always less than a market rent. The tenant negotiates the rent of his property with his landlord. He does not have to accept the tenancy.

The private landlord provides housing at no cost to anyone but himself. He buys the property and maintains it with his own money. He is taxed on any profit he makes from rents. There is Capital Gains tax when he sells, and 40 per cent Inheritance tax when he dies. Who is subsidising whom?

The North West Landlords' Association works very closely with the Local Authorities in our area. We have a very good working relationship with most of them - especially Bolton and Bolton at Home.

John P O'Donnell Chairman, North West Landlords' Association, 113 Tonge Moor Road, Bolton