EAST Lancashire MPs have joined across the political divide to welcome a new government drive to licence some private landlords.

Housing Minister Nick Raynsford told Labour MPs Gordon Prentice and Peter Pike that he was keen to tighten the rules on the private rented sector.

In particular he wanted to bring in licensing arrangements for houses in multiple occupation -- often large 19th century properties converted into bedsits.

Mr Raynsford said the worst of these were a severe fire risk to occupants and that he wanted to bring in a licensing system for such properties and other specific types of private rented houses and flats to tackle particulars problems with rogue landlords and certain areas of the country.

Mr Raynsford told the MPs that he hoped to turn proposals in a recent Green Paper to introduce licensing -- which would not affect the vast majority of reputable landlords -- into legislation as a matter of urgency.

Pendle MP Mr Prentice was joined by Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans and fellow Labour MPs Janet Anderson and Greg Pope in welcoming in the move.

Mr Evans said: "There has long been a problem with rogue landlords. This is the right move. I would support it."

"We need to clean up the bad areas of the rented sector but the government must not introduce unnecessary red tape on good landlords. We need to encourage the private rented sector."

Mr Prentice welcomed the prospect of local authorities getting new powers and said: "I have been raising the issue of rogue landlords for ages and its great news that the government is going to act."

"No-one wants to drive out the good landlord -- its a problem of the bad landlord who doesn't give a fig about the tenants or the state of the property that we've got to address." "A council such as my own should have powers to regulate private landlords. Such landlords don't give a hoot what happens to their rundown properties."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "This is a good idea. I have had some terrible problems in my constituency with some appalling private landlords. This is a move in the right direction."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said: "This is an excellent idea. There are serious problems with some landlords and we need to take action against them exploiting people who don't know their rights."