A GOVERNMENT BACKBENCHER says there is a need for basic minimum standards for properties on the rental market.

Parliamentary representative for Christ Church West Central, Stephen Lashley, said in the House of Assembly Tuesday it could not be business as usual "where anybody could put anything, anywhere and demand a very high rent for it".

"We have a number of landlords who need to be controlled in relation to how they manage their rental properties and in relation to how they increase rents on tenants.

"I believe we need to focus very quickly on some kind of rent control regime to bring some sense to what is going on," Lashley said.

The MP said that the stories "sometimes are chilling in relation to the amount of rent that some landlords would wish to charge" for the same properties they did not wish to upgrade.

Lashley's comments came during debate on the passing of a resolution to approve the vesting of Crown lands at The Ivy in St Michael, and Coverley, Christ Church, for housing.

Additionally, he said that housing was perhaps "the number one social issue that we have to face" (DS)