THE opinions of correspondents Anthony Backhouse and Andrew Gordon with regard to evicted tenants highlights a serious potential problem for any area which is unfortunate enough to have either a registered social landlord, or a private landlord who will accept these people.

Any business in this country is expected to be responsible for the quality of its product and they are accountable by various means for the way in which the service is delivered. But not landlords. As long as the fire alarm works and the toilets flush, it would seem they are untouchable.

They can fill up their properties, have the DSS money paid into their bank accounts, and then say it is not their responsibility when they are taken to task.

Of course the bad ones are in the minority -- many run very good businesses but, as ever, it is always the few who spoil it for the many.

A while ago the Bolton Evening News reported that the council had been given a substantial grant to look into the problems bad landlords can cause, and come up with an answer to eliminate these problems.

I would think by now they are well on their way to identifying the solution -- perhaps our housing Cabinet Member can give us a project report on how pressure will be applied to those landlords who do not care about the problems their business activities cause their neighbours.

Bolton at Home are obviously succeeding in cleaning up their estates. Perhaps they ought to be sent in to trouble spots in the private sector and send the bill to the landlord.

The current system seems to rely on self regulation. This cannot be allowed to continue. Whatever the proposals may be, which emerge from the working group which was set up with the Government grant money, they must be totally enforceable.

Walter Scott

Bromwich Street

The Haulgh

Bolton