I read with interest the letter from councillor Jack Hazelgrove, chairman of Brighton and Hove City Council's housing committee, concerning the suitable accommodation for homeless people (July 15).

The Southern Private Landlords Association has been working towards sensible regulation concerning the use of small rooms in this city - without any success at all.

The association commissioned an independent report from a property expert, which clearly demonstrated that small rooms, when properly used, are very acceptable affordable forms of accommodation, especially for homeless people.

Brighton and Hove City Council continues to insist on much larger minimum sizes for accommodation than many other local authorities, yet has a very considerable need for such accommodation. There are many suitable rooms already in existence which are unable to be let as a result of these policies.

Councillors should forget the theory and be practical. Talk to us and move forward.

Many solutions to housing the homeless are available at no cost to the council tax-payer. They are being ignored without good reason.

-Mike Stimpson, chairman, Southern Private Landlords Association, Milner Road, Brighton