A CAMPAIGN to introduce fair rents in the private housing sector is being initiated by a Darwen councillor.

Coun Dave Smith was shocked to discover a house in Hindle Street, Darwen, owned by the council, is let for £41.49 a week.

Yet other homes on the same street belonging to private letting agencies can fetch up to £80 a week.

He said: "The private sector is pricing houses out of the market.

"They seem to be buying up properties and then letting them to people on housing benefits for high rents.

"If the council can let this house for £41, how come the private agencies charge so much more?"

Coun Smith said the situation was the same all over the borough and he would be contacting Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson to take up his campaign at a national level.

"If a fair rent was introduced, it could save the Government a fortune.

"People who live in these houses are mainly unemployed and on benefits and are never going to be able to work because they could not afford to pay these kind of rents on the wages they would earn."

Coun Smith has written to the independent rents officer for Lancashire and is asking him to investigate the letting agencies in Blackburn and Darwen.

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