Residential landlords in Oxford could be set to benefit from a new guide designed to help them improve their properties.

Oxford City Council has launched a new Good Practice Guide in a bid to improve the standard of rented accommodation in the area, the Oxford Mail reported.

First impressions are vitally important for landlords when trying to let properties, it was advised today.

Although potential tenants are likely only to view properties they have already deemed as desirable, there is no room for complacency, warned letting agent Belvoir Cheadle.

A special advice session for current and prospective landlords has been hailed as a huge success by organisers.

Eden District Council said that almost 100 people attended the evening get-together, which covered areas such as fire safety, landlord law and energy efficiency.

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5 per cent, as expected, for a fourth successive month.

The Bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) is expected to keep the current rate, in place since March until at least 2010.

Positive economic data filtering through in recent weeks could see the time that interest rates are raised against brought forward, however.