Landlords such as the one referred to in a recent story (‘Landlord refuses to deal with ‘revolting’ bedbugs’, Times Series, October 9) need tackling.

Labour councillors in July called on Conservative-run Barnet Borough Council to adopt a landlord licensing scheme in the borough, as well as making it mandatory for any private landlord renting out homes to council tenants to be registered with the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme – a scheme endorsed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Unsurprisingly, the Conservative majority on Barnet Council voted against this motion. Many Conservative councillors sought a special dispensation to vote on this as they are landlords themselves, thus having a direct conflict of interest. Without such dispensations being issued, Labour would have succeeded in the motion and the council would be looking to implement a licensing scheme.

By not regulating the fastest growing tenure of housing in this borough, the council is allowing landlords, such as the one mentioned in your story, to occupy disproportionate power in the relationship between landlord and tenant.

One thing is for sure – this issue is not going away.

Labour councillors will continue to be on the side of tenants to make sure that no one is exploited, both in terms of contract and conditions of the property in which they reside.

Meanwhile, London Labour Assembly Members, including Andrew Dismore, have been pushing the mayor to extend his regulations and seek statutory powers.

A Labour government, led by Ed Miliband, has pledged a better deal for renters to balance the relationship between tenants and landlords, including the introduction of fair and predictable rents.

Regarding the specific case of my constituent Mr Afzal – I have written to the landlord asking for action to be taken and reminding them of their current statutory obligations.

Cllr Adam Langleben

Lab/ West Hendon ward Barnet Borough Council