Mike Stimpson, director of the Southern Landlords’ Association, assures readers that if rent caps were introduced landlords would withdraw their properties (Letters, August 30).

He defends high rents as a fair return for investment by the landlord. Mr Stimpson also points out that tenants can apply for Local Housing Allowance. Really? Only if you can get a flat in the first place!

I know somebody who is currently looking for a one-bedroom flat. These seem to be around the £700+ range. Some of them are truly shabby. What investment by the landlord?

Many letting agents require detailed information regarding salaries etc, and if they feel earnings aren’t high enough they will not let the property without a guarantor. If people can’t rent a property in the first place, how then could they apply for Local Housing Allowance? Double-bluff, Mr Stimpson. Rent caps would allow young people to leave home and provide income for landlords. There probably would be some loss of property to let, but these are likely to be the landlords who don’t maintain their properties in the first place.

Penny Hajduk, Manton Road, Bevendean

Instead of the council spending more of our money trying to find a way to charge existing taxpayers even more, what about finding a way to charge students or, better still, their landlords as they disproportionately drain council resources?

Chris Roberts, Bernard Road, Brighton