The Council is concerned about the impact of 'To let' boards in some parts of the city - generally those with a high number of annual student lets. This page charts the history of the Council's work on letting boards in reverse order, i.e. with current and most recent events at the top.
We are currently seeking to get the cooperation of letting agents by means of a Voluntary Code of Practice on Letting Boards. If this does not work, we may be able to obtain stronger powers from central government to remove some or all boards from the worst affected areas.
Note: All downloads below are pdfs unless otherwise stated.
The revised Voluntary Code of Practice has been adopted for implementation by the Council and became operational as of the 01 December 2009. Download the code here (142 kb).
We completed a second 100% survey of boards in mid July. We held a meeting with agents and landlords to discuss the outcome of the survey and the future of the Voluntary Code of Practice on 30 July 2009. A note of the meeting is in preparation. You can download the invitation letter and the note of the meeting here:
Note of meeting 30 July 2009 - to follow
Letter to agents 21 July 2009
A further meeting of a smaller joint working group is due in late August 2009.
In January 2009 we carried out a 100% survey of to let and for sale boards in the areas most affected by annual lets. We are now doing a monthly sample survey of selected streets.
During March 2009 we wrote again to all agents to remind them of the Code and seeking their cooperation, even if they had not signed up to it:
Letter to agents March 2009 (42 kb)
After approval of the Code in August 2008 we wrote to all 130 or more agents who put up 'to let' and 'for sale' boards in the areas affected. We asked them to 'sign up' to the Code. Only eight agents did so, obviously a very small minority.
Letter to agents August 2008 (150 kb)
The Council's Development Control Committee on 22 August 2008 agreed the Voluntary Code of Practice on Letting Boards. You can download the report to Committee here. The recommendation to approve the Code was agreed without amendment.
Report to Committee 22 August 2008
Minutes of Committee 22 August 2008 (16 kb)
Voluntary Code (16 kb)
Map of area subject to the Code (179 kb)
The Code as agreed is as follows:
1. ‘To Let’ boards must be removed not later than 14 days of the tenancy being granted or when the property is otherwise effectively taken off the market for the next academic year.
2. Slips with ‘Let’, ‘Let By’ or similar wording may be used but must be removed along with the main board as under item 1.
3. Boards should be mounted on buildings and should not be placed on posts in the gardens or the grounds, with the exception of premises where the distance from the outer dwelling door to the back edge of the pavement is more than 5 metres or where a restrictive covenant in the freehold or the lease between the freeholder and leaseholder precludes attachment to the property.
4. ‘To Let’ boards that have been taken down under item 1 shall not be re-erected until the first full working week in the following January. Boards for properties that are new to the market for the following academic year shall not be put up until the same time. Signs may remain up for properties that are either unoccupied and immediately available or where they are being marketed other than on an annual let coinciding with the academic year, for example ‘executive’ lets.
5. Boards should be no more than 0.25m2 in area (equivalent to 50cm by 50cm) and vertically aligned, e.g. 60cm high by 40cm wide. Progress towards this aspect in the 2008-09 academic year will be very welcome, but it will not be brought in fully until 2009-10 to allow for replacement of existing stock.
In May 2008 we consulted in writing all those companies that put up letting boards in student housing areas about the five suggestions listed above. In June 2008 we followed this up with interviews of the 20 or so leading players in the field. We have had a good response and have analysed their responses, 35 in all.
There was significant support for many aspects of the proposed Code, though many agents said they would only do certain things if everybody else did! You can download the letter, the survey form we sent out, a summary of the 35 responses and a report that we have since taken to our Shared Housing Working Group (on 28 July 2008).
Letter to letting agents 15 May 2008 (8 kb)
Survey form 15 May 2008 (21 kb)
Summary of responses to survey and interviews (74 kb)
Report to Shared Housing Working Group 28 July 2008
Map of area likely to covered by the Code (284 kb)
Development Control Committee takes the formal lead on the letting boards issues. You can download the report we took to the Committee in June 2007. This includes the draft Code of Practice for consultation.
Committee Report from 8 June 2007
Papers for meeting on 22 August 2008
This Group is made up of elected councillors and Council officers. It now meets once every two months. It has debated the lettings boards issue a number of times in the past. It cannot make decisions itself, but it does provide very useful advice and support to Commitees that do make decisions. You can read its reports and minutes by following these links:
2008-09 (September 2008 onwards)
2008-09 (up to August 2008)
2007-08
2006-07
2005-06
Leeds City Council is at the forefront of action on a range of student housing issues. Please see links below for recent documents produced by Leeds City Council on letting boards.
Report on Revision and Renewal of the 'To Let' Board Code. 7th January 2008 (94 kb)
Map of Direction Area 2005 (1.69 MB)
Map of Area of Housing Mix (large file, 5.09 MB)
Guidance for landlords on the erection of residential letting boards in inner north west Leeds (76 kb)
The following web pages may be of interest, though Newcastle City Council does not necessarily agree with all the opinions voiced there.
National HMO Lobby
Leeds HMO Lobby
Jesmond Residents Association
CLG Houses in Multiple Occupation and planning research report - September 2008
CLG Houses in Multiple Occupation and possible planning responses: consultation - May 2009
Dianne Perry
Policy Officer
Planning and Housing Strategy Team
Strategic Housing, Planning and Transportation
Tel: 0191 277 7187
Email: dianne.perry@newcastle.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 4 August 2009.
Page last updated: 16 August, 2011
