A NOT-for-profit lettings agency could be established in Settle if local landlords show interest in the idea.

Langcliffe resident Tracey Harrison carried out a housing survey in and around the town looking at the effects on the community of the spiralling house prices. She was particularly interested in the effect on the rental market. Sixty people returned their questionnaires, which represented around three per cent of those sent out to local households.

On Monday around 15 people attended a public meeting held by Mrs Harrison and colleague John Crewdson in Settle Victoria Hall to discuss the survey and ideas resulting from it. Mrs Harrison explained that rising house prices were forcing young people out of the area, often leaving behind elderly relations who became increasingly isolated leading to loneliness and depression.

To encourage a vibrant community various elements needed to balance, such as the population mix, population outputs and inputs, economy, retail, tourism and jobs, she said, but currently there was not a balance in the Settle area.

"We are not a group of people who have suddenly decided we don't want certain things to happen, what we want to look at is how to achieve balance to make the area liveable and workable for everyone," said Mrs Harrison.

"Ninety-five per cent of people replying said they would be in favour of a not-for-profit letting agency. Clearly we need to do more consultation with landlords, and if we can prove a need apply for funding, employ a suitably qualified worker and see how it goes," she said.

Landlords would be charged a membership fee undercutting profit making agencies. Much of the marketing and identifying of tenants would be done on the internet and possibly through a network of local volunteers acting as contact points in various villages. The agency would strive towards securing long term lets which would suit tenants and landlords.

Mrs harrison said: "When people are not sure how long they are going to be somewhere they are less inclined to look after a property, to decorate and keep the gardens tidy. We want to establish long term tenancies.

"If a landlord paid us, say, £300 a year and normally it would be up to £1,000 a year in agency fees, we would like to say how about putting half of those savings towards reducing the cost of rent? Another idea is to reward long term tenants by perhaps giving them a month's free rent after two years."

There was a mixed response at the meeting with most people feeling more research was needed. Funding was seen as the crucial factor and there were concerns that to be successful the agency would need to address potential problems of supply and demand.

Representatives of housing associations attended the meeting and were concerned about the doubling up of work, urging Mrs Harrison and Mr Crewdson to discuss the idea with Craven's Housing Forum.

Second homes were blamed for taking cheaper cottages out of the stock of available housing locally and exacerbating problems and there were calls for owners of second homes to pay double council tax.

Anyone interested in the idea of not-for-profit lettings can contact Mrs Harrison on 07929 387381.