I am writing about the proposed licencing of houses of multiple occupation, following changes to regulations on April 1.

It is proposed to licence around 4,000 HMOs annually from November this year. This will require about 16 inspections each day, so will need a few inspectors to carry out the work.

The inspection cost is expected to be based on the current HMO licence of £1,200 for five years and is likely to be in the order of £250pa and possible as much as £300.

This cost is ridiculous. An energy performance certificate (EPC), which involves time spent and detail collected from a property, from a private company, is upwards of £55 and less than £100 (The EPC for my three-bed terrace was £55 last year).

The whole HMO licencing should be privatised as were EPC inspections.

This is a good example of where the private sector could do the work more efficiently and at less cost. I very much hope that Oxford Mail readers will go to the OCC website consultation and survey and make a comment on the cost of the scheme before the end of the consultation period on June 21.

I am getting increasingly annoyed by meddling by the state – including local authorities – particularly when it work is inefficient and could be done more efficiently by the private sector. However, no doubt it is seen as a bit of a money spinner – 4,000 inspections could bring in be £1.2m per year.

I have no great issue with the principle of licensing to improve standards across the sector, and it is regrettable that the provision of a few low quality dwellings has brought this on.

Colin Stone, Hill View Road, Oxford