Let's not shed too many tears for the poor private landlords who barely make a profit out of letting (Letters, August 15).

After all, apart from the ever-rising value of their property, the tenant is always on a six-month or one-year lease.

Many private properties are inadequately insulated or heated, with damp a frequent problem.

If it wasn't for the financial institutions falling over themselves to encourage people to buy several properties to let, there would be more owners and fewer tenants - a far healthier situation.

-S Albert, Hove