A community union has demanded councillors take action to improve the private rental sector in the city.

In its “people’s manifesto”, Acorn lists five demands it wants to see candidates running for election in Brighton and Hove commit to.

They include introducing a landlord licensing scheme, action on holiday lets and second homes and a zero-tolerance approach to landlords who break the law.

The union is urging the public to contact candidates in their ward and ask them to pledge their support to their demands.

Acorn has also committed to sharing candidates’ responses to the manifesto to “give voters a better picture of what their potential councillors stand for and what they are willing to do to make Brighton and Hove a better place to live”.

Acorn’s five election demands

• Adopt a zero-tolerance approach to rogue landlords within six months of the election
• Implement city-wide landlord licensing by the end of 2023
• Do everything possible to safeguard homes for local residents, rather than holiday homes and investments
• Make buses more affordable for the city’s residents
• Keep the city’s toilets open and protect them in future budgets

An Acorn spokesman said: “We are committed to providing a voice for the residents of Brighton and Hove and the May elections are the perfect opportunity to challenge prospective councillors on the issues which concern the public the most.

“We have had great success with the ‘save our toilets’ campaign and in forcing the council to finally introduce a limited form of landlord licensing, but we want to make sure that the next council follows through on both these issues and the others which make up our people’s manifesto.

“There is much to be done to make Brighton and Hove a city which works for all its residents and we won’t stop fighting and holding those in power to account.”