Thousands of privately rented homes in Oxford could be illegally occupied and potentially dangerous, say city council officials.

Housing and environmental health officials have identified a serious problem with the condition of privately owned, multiple-roomed homes, with an estimated 3,500 lacking adequate fire escapes.

By law, all three-storey houses with five or more people living in them have to be registered with local authorities as houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs), but it is thought that as many as 1,000 in Oxford are not registered.

The problems were identified after the council conducted a survey which found the city had the highest number of properties in the South East of England without a bath, shower or toilet.

Part of the survey conclusions read: "The percentage figures for properties (in Oxford) lacking modern facilities (bath, shower and toilet) is notably higher than the national average with 14.7 per cent in Oxford, compared with 5.7 per cent nationally."

The investigation also found: Oxford had double the number of privately rented homes than the national average There are an estimated 5,000 HMOs in Oxford, with six per cent unfit for habitation and 70 per cent without adequate fire escapes It would cost £19.1m to carry out all necessary repairs to Oxford's private housing stock.

Environmental health manager Gail Siddall said: "There are people who are dying in properties (nationally) that are cold and have no means of escape the council has to intervene in these circumstances. Some people are living in horrible conditions.

"We don't know where all the stock is in the private sector. It's a free market, but it should be that everyone is living in a decent home, whether it's owner-occ- upied, rented or from the council."

The Housing Act 2004, which has just come into force, gives councils the power to fine landlords who do not register HMOs. Owners of properties without a licence face a fine of £20,000.

As a result of the survey, the council is drawing up a private sector housing strategy.

It says enforcement action will be taken against landlords who do not accept opportunities to improve their properties and suggests investigating drawing up an approved private landlord accreditation list.

Do you know about any unregistered multiple-occupied houses in Oxford? Call our newsdesk on 01865 425500.