Court backs city council’s letting board crackdown

Letting boards left outside occupied student homes for years are being removed from one city’s streets after a council crackdown was backed by the courts.

The signs had effectively become permanent, with officials saying most were advertising the agents rather than the properties.

Now Birmingham City Council says it will begin enforcement action following complaints from residents in Selly Oak and Bournbrook, where privately rented student housing is concentrated around the universities.

Students had also raised concerns that boards outside their homes could identify the properties as potential targets for criminals, according to BirminghamLive.

Boards remained in place

Dozens of signs have now been removed, including boards that remained in place after properties had been fully occupied.

The council said the action would help create safer streets and address the visual impact on residential neighbourhoods.

A council spokesperson told BirminghamLive: “The Property Licensing team has taken enforcement action to address the proliferation of letting agent boards on roads following long-standing concerns raised by residents, community representatives and local stakeholders.

“For many years, residents have raised concerns about visual blight, the over-commercialisation of the area, the impact on community cohesion, and the perception that boards can identify student properties as potential targets for crime.

“Due to the proximity of the universities, the ward has a very high concentration of privately rented housing, providing essential short-term accommodation for students studying in the area.”

Boards were a visible feature

They added that the widespread use of letting boards had become a visible and perpetual feature of residential streets.

Many of the boards had ‘remained in place year-after-year’ despite the properties being fully let.

That meant the boards were being used to advertise letting agents rather than available accommodation.

Community protection warnings were issued to the letting agents responsible for the largest number of boards.

Refusal led to court action

Thirteen agents complied with the warnings and removed their signs, but four did not which led the council to take formal action.

The council spokesperson said: “Formal action was then taken against those agents.

“This resulted in an appeal to court last week, which was successfully defended by the council and further supports the approach taken to improve the community.”

The council said its use of enforcement powers was challenged through the courts, but the appeal was unsuccessful, allowing officers to continue taking action in affected neighbourhoods.

Make the area look better

Writing on Twitter/X, the authority said: “The council’s use of these powers was challenged through the courts.

“The appeal was unsuccessful, supporting our approach and allowing us to continue our efforts to improve the environment in affected neighbourhoods.

“The result has been safer streets, improved neighbourhoods, and work continuing to make the area a better place to live.”