Landlords should ensure that they keep their rental properties in good repair and should use other properties in the area as a standard, according to an environmental consultant at the Residential Landlords Association.

Neil Marsden stated that landlords have a responsibility to maintain a property''s internal and external structure, heating, baths and sinks and pointed out that a neighbourhood''s age, character and location often provide good guidelines as to what work needs to be done.

"If you have a late-Victorian property in an area of late-Victorian houses then it wouldn''t be expected that it would be in a state of repair similar to a modern property," he explained.

This month, the National Landlords Association issued a warning to property owners about the potential for rising winter repair bills this year.

Landlords have been advised to protect against leaks, power cuts and frozen pipes and pathways.

Earlier this year, the Rics Building Cost Information Service reported that there has been a 20 per cent rise in the average cost of home improvements and repairs in the past two years.

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