A scheme has been launched to improve housing in bedsits for thousands of college

students.

Brighton and Hove Council has set up the Shared House Standards Scheme along with the Universities of Brighton and Sussex.

It is encouraging landlords to sign up to guidelines on good practice for their homes.

These will cover fire and gas safety, repairs, the amount of space available and good management of the property.

Opportunity

Brighton and Hove cabinet housing councillor Tehmtan Framroze said: "This is an excellent opportunity to work closely with landlords to continue improving

housing standards for

students."

Christopher Thornton, University of Brighton head of student services, said: "The scheme should be of obvious benefit to tenants and owners alike."

Charles Dudley, director of student services at Sussex University, said students needed to be sure their housing was as safe and habitable as

possible.

Students looking for housing will be told which landlords have signed up to the scheme.

There are about 24,000 students in the towns and while some are housed by the universities, most look for accommodation in the bedsit belt.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.