Nottingham confirms permanent letting board ban

Permanent restrictions on letting boards in parts of Nottingham have been confirmed after government approval, bringing an end to years of temporary controls in areas with high student housing.

The Secretary of State has agreed that existing planning rules on ‘To let’ boards will now remain in place indefinitely, following a public consultation last year.

The measures require boards to be mounted flush to the wall above a front door where possible, with tighter limits on placement and visibility.

The restrictions cover neighbourhoods including Hyson Green and Arboretum, Lenton and Wollaton East and Radford.

These are areas where concentrations of HMOs have led to repeated displays of letting boards, often across the same streets.

Letting board clutter

The council’s executive member for housing and planning, Cllr Jay Hayes, said: “This is fantastic news for local communities.

“These restrictions will make a visible and lasting difference in parts of the city that have been affected or years by the clutter of unmanaged letting boards.

“Ensuring our neighbourhoods are clean, attractive and great places to live is a priority for the council, and this decision helps us protect the character of these areas for the long term.”

Report a letting board

In those Nottingham locations, large volumes of signage have been a persistent feature with residents complaining about the effect on the look of local streets.

That is particularly the case where boards are left up or repeatedly replaced.

Now, from Monday 13 April, the rules take effect in full.

Landlords and letting agents will be required to remove any boards that do not meet the guidance and avoid installing new ones where restrictions apply.

The council is also threatening enforcement and residents are expected to report unauthorised boards.

It says that each breach may result in financial penalties where the rules are not followed.

Other councils with a ban on lettings boards includes Newcastle, Lincoln and Waltham Forest.