While Mr Lucas, of Lewes, takes a benign view of landlords in Hanover and Elm Grove (Letters, August 16), I have had many complaints as a ward councillor from residents about the neglect of nearby student houses and their mismanagement by owners.

There are also concerns about refuse, parking and noise.

Unlike Mr Lucas, I sympathise with Michael Cook and Yvonne Brown, who have seen their corner of Brighton change beyond recognition in recent years with the spread of student housing.

The 2001 census revealed students accounted for about 13.5 per cent of the population of Hanover and Elm Grove, compared to about eight per cent for the rest of the city. I have no doubt this percentage has risen in the ward in the past four years, given the number of houses which have been converted for student use since the census.

Mr Lucas's belief that houses in Hanover and Elm Grove would be left empty and possibly derelict if it wasn't for buy-to-let shows how out of touch he is.

There is no shortage of households wanting to move into the neighbourhood - it is a popular area. Unfortunately, they cannot afford to. The intervention of landlords prepared to pay top dollar for houses has helped push up prices.

Families wanting to rent cannot compete with groups of six or seven students paying £1,500 or more a month between them for a shared house.

If Mr Lucas had read The Argus article carefully, he would have seen that I did not demonise students.

The Housing Act 2004, which comes into force in November, will introduce licensing for all multiple- occupant houses of three or more storeys and with five or more residents. As a result, larger student houses will have to meet a set of safety standards and be owned or managed by a "fit or proper person".

However, the new Act will do nothing about the concentration of student housing in some areas.

Leeds City Council is planning to introduce an area of student-housing restraint in Headingley, following discussions between the council, the universities and residents.

In Nottingham, a proposal to limit student housing to no more than 25 per cent of the properties in any one street has been mooted.

We need an informed debate in Brighton and Hove about this issue, which is fair to students and considers the position of permanent residents.

In the meantime, I urge all students moving into rented accommodation to make sure they get a gas safety certificate from their landlord.

-Bill Randall, Green councillor for Hanover and Elm Grove, Brighton and Hove City Council