IRRESPONSIBLE landlords in Pendle could be left out in the cold if councillors approve a monitoring scheme to tackle the borough's problem private housing sector.

A full-time officer could soon be recruited by the council to set up a landlords accreditation scheme (LAS) to address the problem recently highlighted during Lord Falconer's visit to Brierfield.

The Housing Minister was shown run-down houses in Pendle last month and said that one of the areas which needed to be looked at was the licensing of private landlords who buy property cheap and don't care what type of tenant they get in.

Thursday night's council executive meeting will be asked to approve advertising for the post of project officer within the Urban Renewal Section as soon as possible so that work on the development of a voluntary accreditation scheme can start early next year. The officer would be funded through money in the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The scheme will set out standard guidelines for landlords and help the council to be more efficient with enforcement concentrated on the worst properties to improve the quality of accommodation in the private rented sector.

Trevor Mitton, environmental health and urban renewal service manager, said: "If the government is to eventually introduce a mandatory licensing system, an opportunity exists in the meantime to pilot a voluntary scheme.

"It would give us the opportunity to work with the good landlords and test and learn how a scheme might operate in practice by co-operation before any mandatory national model.

"We will then be better placed to influence any future consultation process and will have established a framework for the provision of quality private rented housing." It is estimated that there are eight per cent -- approximately 3,000 -- households in private rented accommodation in Pendle.

Recent development of a landlord's forum in Pendle has helped to establish a means of communication with those landlords who regularly attend but they are the minority.

Mr Mitton said: "For years responsible landlords have been stigmatised by the actions of irresponsible landlords who have concentrated on profits to the detriment of the condition of the property and without thought for good management principles.

"Accreditation will give public recognition to responsible landlords while excluding those who put tenants health at risk."