BURNLEY will become the first East Lancashire authority to start training landlords to try and improve services for tenants in the borough.

From next week, as part of a new 'Good Landlord' scheme, sessions will teach accredited landlords about tenancy and property management issues.

Landlords taking part will get an accreditation training pack and management certificate.

Coun Carole Galbraith, Burnley Council's former executive member for housing, said: "The Government appears to be moving towards the regulation of housing conditions in the rented sector. Burnley Council is committed to working with the 3,000 landlords operating within the borough to improve the quality of housing in order to ensure all tenants have a home which meets the standard.

"Training offered is a two-way process in which we will learn from each other.

"It is intended that this training will be rolled out to non-accredited landlords in the near future in the hope they will bring their properties up to the decent homes standard."

The training session will be held at the Vanguard Centre, Burnham Gate, Burnley, on September 9.

The council is also to run landlord surgeries in Burnley Wood and South West Burnley in November, aimed at providing landlords and their tenants with a one stop information service.

Private sector tenants in the town are also being given the opportunity to have free house inspections as part of the council's private rented sector (PRS) pilot project which works alongside the accreditation project in helping to raise the profile of private sector housing in areas of property and tenancy management. For details of how to book an inspection call Michelle Taylor on 01282 418173.

For information on accreditation and PRS projects call David Alcock or Bernadette Morris on 01282 425011 ext 2492 or 01282 418172/173 or email glts@burnley.gov.uk