Nottingham City Council is looking to reinstate restrictions on the display of letting boards in parts of Hyson Green & Arboretum, Lenton & Wollaton East and Radford, following several complaints from members of the public, resident groups and local councillors about the increasing quantity of letting boards. These restrictions, which expired in 2023, are being reassessed with a view to apply for a new direction from the Secretary of State.

The council first applied for restrictions on letting boards in 2011, following concerns that the increase of boards negatively affected the character and appearance of local neighbourhoods. Previously nine areas were identified where letting boards were not permitted on residential properties without the council’s consent unless the boards met strict criteria. A design guide for letting boards was introduced to help landlords comply with the restrictions while displaying boards on their properties. Letting boards that followed the design guidelines were exempt from enforcement action.

In response to ongoing concerns since the previous restrictions ended, the council, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Planning, has agreed to reapply for the restrictions to be reinstated. This will include a minor boundary change to reflect recent developments and will propose an extended period of ten years for the new restrictions.

As part of the reapplication process, the council is committed to consulting with members of the public, students, landlords, letting agents, resident groups, universities, and student unions. This consultation will gather feedback and ensure that all relevant stakeholders have a chance to share their views before the proposal is submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.

The council is urging landlords and agents to continue adhering to the previous restrictions while the reapplication process is underway. Working in partnership with agents is a priority, and the council hopes this request will be respected. However, should the new restrictions be granted and the guidelines not followed, enforcement action may be considered to remove non-compliant boards.

Councillor Jay Hayes, Executive Member for Housing and Planning 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 closing date for the survey is Tuesday 20 May. For further information or to take part in the consultation, please visit the letting boards page on the website or contact the Council’s Planning Department by emailing planning@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.