Nottingham City Council is currently considering the reintroduction of stringent rules governing the display of letting boards in several city neighbourhoods. This initiative comes in response to complaints from members of the public, resident groups, and local councillors about the increasing number of letting boards visible across Nottingham, particularly in areas with high concentrations of student housing and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
The council originally implemented letting board restrictions in 2011 amid concerns that the proliferation of these boards was adversely affecting the character and appearance of certain neighbourhoods. These previous restrictions, which applied to nine areas, expired in 2023. Now, officials are reviewing and preparing to resubmit a similar set of restrictions for government approval, aiming for a ten-year designation with minor boundary adjustments to accommodate recent developments.
The proposed rules are focused on parts of the Hyson Green & Arboretum, Lenton & Wollaton East, and Radford areas. Under the new proposal, letting boards would only be permitted between 1 January and 30 September each year, with a prohibition on display from 1 October to 31 December. The rules stipulate that only one letting board per building is allowed, which must be mounted flush to the wall directly above the front door or, if that is not possible, on the main street-facing elevation, not exceeding the height of the first-floor windowsills.
Boards would be required to have a white background and conform to specific dimensions, either 34cm by 48cm or 48cm by 34cm. Only one company logo would be permitted on each board, occupying no more than one-third of the total board size, with logos and text limited to black and a single uniform colour excluding fluorescent shades. Additionally, boards could bear wording such as "Let By," "Let," or "More Wanted." Further restrictions include allowing only one board per landlord or agent per street, and the mandatory removal of boards no later than 14 days after a tenancy agreement is signed. Boards must only be displayed during the calendar year the tenancy is available.
The council has stressed the importance of landlords and letting agents continuing to comply with the previous restrictions while the current reapplication process is underway. Failure to adhere to the new requirements, if approved, could result in enforcement actions to remove non-compliant boards.
Councillor Jay Hayes, Nottingham City Council's executive member for housing and planning, emphasised the council's aims in this matter. Speaking to the Nottingham Post, he said, “I encourage residents to share their views on the proposed reintroduction of letting boards restrictions. By reinstating these restrictions, we aim to protect our communities’ character while working constructively with landlords and letting agents. This consultation is an important step to ensure everyone has a voice to shape the future of our city’s residential areas.”
The council has opened a consultation process involving the public, students, landlords, letting agents, resident groups, universities, and student unions. Interested parties are invited to provide feedback by Tuesday, 20 May. Further details and access to the consultation survey are available on Nottingham City Council’s website, or enquiries can be made by emailing the planning department at [email protected].
Source: Noah Wire Services