Consultation on Controlling Letting Boards in Newcastle
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
NE1 2PP
Yes
N/A
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
NE2 2TD
No
N/A
No
No
No
No
Not a big problem in our area.
NE2 2AR
No
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
N/A
NE2 3JA
Yes
Unsightly.
Disincentive for families to move to neighbourhood
They can cause damage to the structure of the building
No
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE1 7PQ
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
As a letting agency we would be happy to comply with any regulations introduced by
the local authority provided they were mandatory. Voluntarily complying with a code
puts us at a disadvantage if other agents do not choose to comply.
NE6 5YE
Yes
It affects the appearance of the neighbourhood, tenanted
houses tend to be less well kept (at least in appearance)
than owner-occupied houses and To Let boards add to
this.To Let boards appear to be used by the letting agents
for free advertisement, placed all year round, protruding into
the highway and eventually become targets for
vandalism.Many To Let boards in a street give the
appearance of a transient population and whilst this might
be true, does not foster a neighbourhood 'feel'
Yes
No
No
Yes
It should be noted that For Sale signs generally appear to be taken down, however as
a tenant I have noted that the letting agents rarely if ever remove the boards from
properties.The marketing push from letting agents has become more aggressive,
hardly surprising given the economic climate, however this has meant that properties
are advertised all year round, hence I can foresee that letting agents will argue that
they comply with the voluntary code as the properties are always on the market one
year hence (i.e. to next year's tenants). I would argue that the effectiveness of
signboards, especially to students, is limited and the negative effects outweigh the
marketing efficacy. Possibly a mutually agreed limit on placing them on buildings perhaps at the beginning of the Easter TermTo be truly effective, the To Let sign
should have a 'remove by' date
NE2 2QY
Yes
I've thought for two or three years that letting boards survive
little purpose as they say to let virtually all year round (preletting contracts for the next academic year seem to be
expected/hoped for/marketed for virtually a year ahead).
No
No
No
Yes
I'm pleased to see a straightforward mechanism being provided by the council for
concerns to be aired.
Yes
No
No
Yes
I would suspect most properties are let via the agents web site and question the need
for letting boards.
No
No
No
No
I am not a resident of the above property. But we own a property there, which we
bought for our daughter while she was at University and she fully intended to stay in
newcastle long term. Unfortunately this did not work out and she has returned to live
with us in Yorkshire.We are now "stuck" with the flat as it is worth less than what we
paid for it. We now have been forced to let the flat, and was shocked that we are being
forced to pay £500 for a landlords licence - which doesn't give us very much as far as
we can see. We fully support that as landlords the property should be safe and
habitable, which we have spent considerable sums of money on to ensure this
happens.We feel "to let" boards are the least of the problem in the area - boarded up
properties, untidy gardens, dog faeces, litter, etc [email protected]
Therefore boards merely mark out a property that is rentable
not whether it is actually available at the time.
Streets full of signs make them unattractive, more subject to
theft, and emphasize the sense of flux of people coming and
going for long term residents to accommodate / tolerate
NE2 1JQ
Yes
NE6 2RY
No
Unsightly, add to mess of scruffy gardens,dirty windows,
advertise vacant properties to potential criminals.
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
Ne 2 2PR
Yes
It re-enforces the perception that Jesmond especially
Queens Road is a Student ghetto.
Yes
No
No
Yes
It is about more than just the boards, it is also the general upkeep and visual
appearance that the Council should also concentrate on.
They are visually obtrusive and especially when there is
more than one per household
All landlords should be forced to pay a tax to spend on the EXTERNAL upkeep of the
properties as well as having demands and controls put upon them to control what is
happening inside the house. The current rules are feeble and do not work.The
It adds to the sense that this area is declining- which I am
afraid is the case but this demonstrates it more forcibly
Council should inspect the houses and enforce regular maintenance of the property
(or do it themselves and charge landlords for the service)and also enforce the
soundproofing of party walls as Jesmond houses are poorly built and were not built for
7 rowdy boys.
NE6 5LN
No
N/A
Yes
No
No
No
The property market is in decline across the city and wider country, by removing one of
the major ways (there are only 4) in which estate agents drive customers to their
businesses is detrimental to the industry and economic climate as a whole, we already
have enough clients that do not wish to allow us to use "to let" boards at their
properties for which we take their instruction, to introduce mandatory conditions that
suppress this even further is only going to make the environment worse.
NE2 1HD
Yes
In an area of high student turnover we are regularly blighted
by a rash of boards which detracts form the visual impact of
the area where there is residential housing. It also gives the
impression that many houses are empty. Signs for letting
could easily be displayed inside houses
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes and quickly too - this has been discussed with the council for far too long now.It is
the residents who are paying their council tax who are having their living area blighted
by this unnecessary advertising. The majority of people renting go through agents
anyway and don't choose houses by driving around.Boards don't need to be so big
and for rental don't need to be external.
NE6 5NQ
Yes
The state of many rented properties is poor enough but the
appearance of our local streets is made worse by the almost
year-round presence of enormous lettings boards. They flout
the supposedly enforceable T&C Planning Act 1997
(Advertising Regulations) and are a red rag to burglars who
descend twice-yearly to ransack student properties and
those of owner occupiers nearby.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Residents telephoning agents to request board removal and/or threatening to report
them to the council is the only thing that has any impact in these streets. Unfortunately
this means extra effort, time and expense for residents who then have to repeat the
entire exercise year after year. Myself and my neighbours are quite fed up with the
onus being placed on us to do something that the council ought to have done ten
years ago. Agents will flout a voluntary code because other, less scrupulous, agents
do so and they all wish to have a high advertising profile for as much of the year as
possible. Surely this could have been foreseen? We need a mandatory regulation and
we need one now, with full enforcement powers.
NE1 8JN
No
We are an established, responsible Estate Agent who have
been in business in the noted areas for 30+ years (Keith
Pattinson Ltd). Having signed up to the Voluntary Code we
would like to see enforcement action taken against those
agents/landlords who flought the code rather than the
Council seeking a Regulation 7 Direction which would
penalise responsible agents such as ourselves.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Regarding 6. we would support action taken against irresponsible landlords/agents
who act against the spirit of the Voluntary Code. As such we would support a
revamped code or new guidance which addresses and acts against those working
outside the guidelines.
Andrew Hartley (Head of Pattinson Rentals - Keith Pattinson Ltd)
NE2 1TN
Yes
Letting Boards make the area look like a mess. They are
often left up all year round or left to deteriorate creating even
more mess.Even if they are effective for letting agents it is
dangerous for people to be driving round looking at adverts
in residential streets. Any other advertising board would not
be accepted in such proliferation in such areas.
Yes
No
No
Yes
They are free advertising for letting agents and are not needed in this modern age of
internet marketing.
NE2 1TN
Yes
they stay up indefinitely - even when the property is let
No
N/A
N/A
Yes
N/A
NE2 1TL
Yes
There are too many unsightly boards in Jesmond
No
N/A
N/A
Yes
N/A
NE2 2DT
Yes
the streets look sad and all these boards are advertising let
and possible empty homes, therefore promoting more
burglaries.If coming from outside the area I would be
alarmed and concerned about moving and buying in this
area.
Yes
No
No
Yes
It is only a way of the agents advertising. It is usual to approach an agent or look on
line for property so why do we need boards!
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
NE2 2DU
Yes
The large number of "to let" signs create a nightmare for
many of our older neighbours. Seeing dozens of the signs
reinforces to them that changing nature of the area with an
emphasis on transitoriness.
Yes
No
No
Yes
See points 2b above.
The balance needs to be restored.
There is also evidence that the agents do not subscribe to voluntary codes because of
competition with each other.
It also has a negative effect impact on those wishing to sell
property.
There is also new evident that sexier deigns are being used which is more of an affront
to genuine residents.
They do nothing for the permanent residents yet benefit the
agents considerably.
NE2 2DT
Yes
The large number of letting boards in areas with a large
student population are an eyesore. When we are trying to
sustain our community, they are also a deterrent to families
thinking of moving in to the area, and serve little point as
they are often outdated. Drunken students also enjoy
removing them and placing them in other gardens!
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
N/A
NE2 1TN
Yes
Letting boards are unsightly and are a blight on the pleasant
appearance of the street. Having lived on this street for over
12 months in this time there has always been a large
number of letting boards up and down the street. It appears
that they are being used for free advertising and not to show
vacant letable properties. It is not uncommon to see them
pulled down maliciously and found discarded further down
the street.
No
No
No
Yes
Letting agents should be required to remove letting boards as soon as a property is
let/sold.
Careful consideration for the placement of these boards should also be a requirement.
NE2 2DU
No
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
NE2 1RW
No
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Why does the Council not just enforce current legislation for offenders?
Will you have the resources to police those who put up boards without seeking
permission? If the answer is yes then why do you not do it now?
NE2 2DU
Yes
They are an eyesore. They are put up and then left up for
long periods of time, long after the property is rented. They
put off potential family purchasers of houses. Some of them
have offensive wording, eg the Lets Live Here, which have
strap lines like " Lets party here" "Lets recover here" " Lets
play football here". These encourage exactly the wrong type
of attitude.
Yes
N/A
No
Yes
There is little real need for the signs since students actually use electronic data bases
they do not go to an agent about a property because they have seen a sign. The
companies use the signs as general advertising. Other companies are not allowed to
advertise anwhere and anytime they want to.
Yes
They are untidy.
Yes
No
No
Yes
As an owner of HMOs I am aware of the problem. I have instructed our letting agent
(Groves) not to put up boards on my properties for the last three years. Tennants do
not walk the streets seeing what is for let. They go to the well-known letting agents in
the area of their choice and view lists. Letting boards are not required and are simply
advertising for the less successful letting agents.
I am unable to attend the drop in session on the 18th october, but would be willing to
sit on a steering/monitoring group. Brian Adcock ([email protected]).
NE1 8JN
No
N/A
N/A
Yes
Yes
No
N/A
NE2 2DU
Yes
I have a particular concern about a letting sign at the top of
larkspur terrace jesmond which says "lets recover here".
Since the students are back a to let sign has been pulled up
and placed across the front doors of no.20 and 18. It seems
to be doing the rounds of various student houses
Yes
No
No
Yes
Since responding to this link i have just walked up and down our street and there are
no to let signs. These must have been removed fairly recently but im delighted. There
are 2 rook matthew sayer signs, one is for sale and the other says sold.
NE6 5NB
No
The letting agents and landlords have a right to put up
boards.
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
The council have held no meetings since they launched the code in 2009. They have
put no monies toward promoting the code to either agents, landlords and the general
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
public and as such any failure of the
NE2 1NR
Yes
Detrimental to the appearance of the neighbourhood.
Similar developments which significantly affect the quality of
the local environment would merit planning permission. This
has the effect of making the area less attractive to a more
diverse range of owner occupiers or tenants and thus
changes the nature of the area.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
We support the proposals in the accompanying paper to develop stricter guidance as
to the character of boards and where and when they are to be displayed.
It is obvious in the case of letting boards which are left
permanently in position that their real purpose is to advertise
the agency rather than draw attention to a property to let.
Students themselves frequently take the boards down either
because they don't want to live in a property which is
advertised for letting 9-12 months ahead, or because they
draw attention to the property as a student let and a possible
target for burglary. In either case the boards become yet
another eyesore in the front garden.
NE2 1TN
Yes
Looks unpleasant
No
No
No
Yes
NE2 4AH
No
N/A
No
Yes
No
No
I am extremely concerned about the council appearing to take a stance against
student lettings in these areas, While not perfect, the students were here when I
moved in and I was aware of the situation. I would prefer to have the students then
face the possible alternatives.
NE2 4DP
Yes
Our street has over the years gone from a 100% residential
to 20% residential 80% student let due to its extremely close
proximity to both universities. Student landlords have ruined
this once beautiful area; one of the biggest problems is vast
amounts of 'to let' boards that go up in the November for the
following years intake of students; the previous board may
have only just been taken down. Being a through-pedestian
street for students on their way home from town, even when
a property is 'let' they keep the boards up so to advertise
their other properties for free - many landlords own more
than one property here as it is easy money. This year we
had one property that we contacted Diane Perry about at the
Civic Centre as the board remained up for over a year, how?
rolling advertising from one student intake to the next. We
also suffer from a lot of break-ins as these boards advertise
student let to criminals who know that students have
expensive TVs , laptops, ipods etc that are easy to steal and
easy to shift- in turn residents home can be targeted too.
This street has Conservation status but you would never
think so! Also some boards are a true eye sore and to live
amongst a sea of boards is really not very nice as an owner
of a property who has lived here for over 20 years, bringing
up a family. Residents plant plants to make the street look
nice only for it to be blighted by boards- some of which (Lets
Live Here) leave a lot to be desired!
Yes
No
No
Yes
If further action is introduced please please please police and fine or penalise those
who do not follow your code otherwise it will continue as it has. There are few enough
residents left in Jesmond as it is and no one in the future will buy a house surrounded
by yearly 'to let' boards.
ne6 5hn
Yes
most streets in heaton are now dominated by many let
boards! as a lettings agent this is something also concerns
us!
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
As a lettings agent we are aware of the concerns of the dominance of letting boards in
the area. However they are a neccessary marketing tool for agents. We adhere to
guidelines given in 2009 voluntary code, however many agents don't! this is where the
concerns come from. 3 out of 4 in our office are residents of heaton and jesmond. We
must remember that it is not just agents who benefit from the student population in
newcastle but many local businesses.
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
NE6 5SP
Yes
Eyesore and hundreds of them, often there all year, often
duplicated, old ones not removed, stigmatise our area and
have contributed to the decline.
Yes
No
No
Yes
This should have happened years ago
NE2 1BD
No
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
This should be applied city wide and also apply to For Sale Boards if you
proceed.However you have the legal powers to take those agents to court for
displaying more than one board but do not appear to have used that power. Staff say
they do not have the resources so why will they all of a sudden have the resources for
this scheme.This is effectively discrimination against Landlords in Jesmond to satisfy
residents. What about residents in other parts of the city do they not deserve similar
consideration?You can quite easily reduce problems by advising agents and landlords
that where they breach the code it will be recorded and when their Licence comes up
for renewal they may be deemed not to be fit and proper people to hold a licence.It
tends to be a small number of agents who are the main offenders so why not
prosecute them?
NE6 5PD
Yes
It is an advertisement to burglars that students live in the
property - therefore 3-6 wins for one risk. They are an
unaffective method of advertisement these days anyway
due to the use of the internet to view properties.
No
No
No
Yes
If a code is voluntary then this is no incentive for property owners to take down to
signs.
NE2 2DS
Yes
the number of letting boards that are up all year is an
eyesore. I lived in Tower Hamlets for a period where this
was a real problem. A voluntary code was implemented after
a group of residents started to tear down the boards. This
did not work as the agents staff in the area were transient. A
big improvement when there was an order.
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Any order MUST be enforced by council officers. It is no good taking a power if you do
not use it. Estate Agents know that they are not the most popular group in society and
will flout the Order if they think they can get away with it.
NE2 2PQ
Yes
they are becoming a permanent display of the transient
nature of the community, they are a visual blight, they
potentially attract crime
No
No
No
Yes
This would be an important lever to engage with landlords making them actually visit
their properties and hopefully doing more in terms of generally tidying up their frontage
- some of the gardens and doors are very badly maintained
NE2 2DS
Yes
They litter the streets around us, they are unsightly, are not
maintained, are left up for long periods of time uncared for
and they significantly blight the appearance of the
environment.
Yes
No
No
Yes
I think that generally because the landlords or letting agents do not live in the local
streets they erect the boards and then they are of no consequence to the agents and
so are left, uncared for and not monitored, this proposal will give the local authority the
opportunity to enforce the requirements.
NE2 2ND
Yes
On occasion there have been 4 letting boards on the house
next to mine. The boards are put up too soon and left up too
long. They spoil the appearance of the area.
Yes
No
No
Yes
I have been told by students that the landlords hold meetings at the Universities and
panic the students into thinking they won't get a place but when they have arranged to
lease a place the boards stay for a very long time.
One was left next door to me for a whole year. I evetually emailed the Estate Agent
who told me the season started in November so it wasn't worth removing it in early
October!
NE2 3QT
Yes
There are too many letting boards which remain in place all
year round. This brings the quality of the environment of
Jesmond down.
Yes
No
No
Yes
I fully support the Councils proposals to take control of letting boards. For too long
jesmond and the other areas of high student housing have become overrun by an
increasing number of landlors and estate agents advertising properties.
NE2 2DR
Yes
The boards are very unsightly and, in some cases,
dangerous, when they have fallen down or have been pulled
down 'for fun'.
Yes
No
No
Yes
No.
NE2 2NB
Yes
The boards are too large, garish and unsightly. They are
often erected many months in ahead of a reasonable time (I
saw one yesterday in Sandyford advertising for tenants for
summer 2012). They risk creating the impression that
properties are vacant and therefore potentially encourage
vandalism and break-ins.
Yes
No
No
Yes
It's now two years since the voluntary code was introduced and it has had virtually no
effect. Some letting agents have recently claimed in the news that a few rogue agents
are to blame. This is untrue, all agents are flouting the code.
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
NE2 2DL
Yes
They are an eyesore. They are left up all year round even
when the property is not for let.
Yes
No
No
Yes
NE2 2JN
Yes
Besides being unsightly, they add to the proliferation of
street furniture and have an adverse effect upon the amenity
of the area - they give an impression of transience and lack
of care for the environment. They do not encourage
transient residents to care for their surroundings. Moreover,
many estate agents appear to treat them as free and
permanent advertising - they should be removed as soon as
a property ceases to be vacant.
Yes
No
No
Yes
As noted above, boards should be removed promptly once a property ceases to be
vacant.
NE2 2LX
Yes
They are an eyesore and often end up vandlised. They stay
up all year round and advertise all the properties to burglers.
When I raise it with the agents they say they are still renting
them out even though the students have been in for months.
Yes
No
No
Yes
We have lived in Jesmond for 25 years and this situation has got worse year on year.
The number of boards is unacceptable. In any event the students appear to use the
web to find properties. The boards are just free advertising for the agents.
ne2 2sy
Yes
It brings down the tone of the place, looks unsightly,causes
accidents when gales blow them down.
Yes
No
No
Yes
something needs to be done soon.
NE2 3LB
Yes
Unsightly: they give the area an untidy and 'unsettled' look,
as though everyone is permanently on the move.
Yes
No
No
Yes
The sooner the better!
Unnecessary : tenants search for properties online or via a
letting agent; they don't roam the streets looking at boards.
They are simply free general advertising for agents' names.
NE2 2JX
Yes
The boards appear to be up permanently regardless of
whether the properties are occupied. They are very
unsightly and spoil the appearance of the neighbourhood.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Because a large number of rented properties have been allowed to develop the roof
space they are over occupied leading to problems particularly with parking.
NE2 2RE
Yes
There are a huge number of lettings boards in Jesmond and
they seem to be up all year round. They are a visual blight
on the area.
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 3LE
Yes
They look very unsightly
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 2HH
Yes
Unsightly and reduce the value of the neighbourhood as
they appear top be just left up indefinitely where they apply
to HMO's / student accommodation. On some roads I count
in excess of 20 / 30 boards at one time.
No
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 2DT
Yes
These Boards are a blight on the appearance of the area. .
Yes
No
No
Yes
The sooner controls are introduced, the better.
Many Letting boards are left up on a semi-permanent basis.
Their main purpose seems to be to advertise the agency.
Planning permission should be required as it is for other
such adverts. Letting Boards advertise a property as a
student let and make it a potential target for burglary. When
students take the boards down they are often discarded in
the front garden adding to the poor appearance of the area.
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
NE2 2DT
No
I live in a street where approximately 50% of the properties
are HMOs. Despite the Voluntary Code, most of the HMOs
are displaying letting boards for 9 months of the year:
November until August. This looks unsightly and gives a
poor impression of the neighbourhood. It invites crime
because it indicates that many of the properties are likely to
be unoccupied during vacation times. I don't like the
appearance, it makes me feel insecure and I resent this
intrusion into the daily life of the settled population.
Yes
No
No
Yes
It seems that the Voluntary Code is honoured more in the breach than in practice. The
property agents and landlords all have websites and students have universal access
to the internet. They do not need to have boards showing for extended periods. I would
like to see the display of boards restricted to a specified short period in the year when
the students are looking for accommodation for the following year.
NE2 3HU
Yes
It is a horrendous 12 months per year eyesore. As soon as
the flats are rented they leave the boards up for next year.
No
No
No
Yes
With so many they have little value in letting a property. They are just free advertising
for estate agents.
NE2 2LU
Yes
Extremely unsightly, displayed for too long, security risk,
often pose a health and safety risk to pedestrians (low
boards overhanging footpath).
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 2RE
Yes
Too many lettting boards are left up for far too long
Yes
No
No
Yes
The voluntary code does not work. Many landlords appear to have no sense of their
communal obligations. A strong compulsory code is necessary.
NE23HS
Yes
There are too many per house.they are up for months
sometimes.
Yes
No
No
Yes
The sooner the better
NE2 3LD
Yes
They stay up nearly all year round and make you feel even
more that this is an itinerant area with very few 'homes' in it.
I think Student lets should not be allowed to be posted until
March or April of each Calendar year for houses that are to
be rented in the next september - the majority in this area.
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 2DU
Yes
Too many letting boards, all year round. It is not clear that
the houses with letting boards actually have vacancies; the
letting board may be simply serving as billboards.
No
No
No
Yes
It is important to think about the general appeal of a street and have specific rules for
when and for how long letting boards should be put up.
NE2 2DT
Yes
Length of time Boards are displayed. Rogue letting agents
placing boards at houses where they have no lets available.
Boards now going up for 2012/13 lettings.
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 3LA
Yes
They are unsightly and lower the tine of the area, suggesting
the area is in decline.
No
No
No
Yes
I am very supportive of measures to control the situation and to improve the look of the
area.
NE2 3EA
Yes
The excessive number of boards constantly on display give
Jesmond the look of being run down, transient and
neglected. Many of these are hammered into the brick and
stonework, and when replaced leave damage, adding to the
general run down appearance of the area.
Yes
No
No
Yes
These boards appear to be up throughout the year, with a new wave occurring in late
October for the following August.
NE2 3EA
Yes
The letting boards litter the street and look unsightly. They
give the impression that the whole population of Jesmond is
transitory and the area is in decline.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Students are internet literate. Websites are more effective than letting boards.
NE2 2JN
Yes
These detract from the appearance of the area and it
is generally agreed that they serve no or limited use
in terms of assisting potential tenants who identify
properties in other ways. They are also an indication
of a property's likely occupants and attract crime.
They are poorly monitored and maintained/fixed/
collected. Theydo not always adhere to the voluntary
code.
Yes
No
No
Yes
The companies who put up the boards should be licenced to ensure correct
and appropriate fixing and timely removal. There should be a charge for
landlords to have a board erected or certainly be subject to planning
permission. (Is this not covered already to some extent by the Planning
legislation?)
NE2 3LN
Yes
Unsightly, feels less homely.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Ban them, or significantly reduce their size and place them flush with the
building or in a window.
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
NE2 3DA
Yes
Very unsightly. Most are brightly coloured which
makes them even more unsightly. Too many also
creates the impression of an unstable community.
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 3AU
Yes
N/A
Yes
No
No
Yes
Don’t allow boards to be displayed, why not let people go on estate agents
websites.
NE2 3LN
Yes
The boards seem to be up most of the year and look
unsightly. They come down about July and start to
reappear in October. They are not collected by the
letting agents once a property is let and then end up
lying around in gardens.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Jesmond is a lovely plave to live and I feel the letting boards are lowering
the tone.
NE2 3AP
Yes
There are a lot of boards, they get left up, they
sometimes fall down and get left lying. They look
unsightly, especially when there are a lot untidily
jostling for a position on a street. They are a sad
reminder that Jesmond has an increasingly transient
population and landlords leave the signs up to
advertise their businesses.
No
N/A
N/A
Yes
I cannot answer 4 and 5 above as I was not aware of the Voluntary Code
introduced in 2009. Landlords should be more responsible.
NE2 3BY
Yes
The area in which I live is blighted by to let and for
sale boards. There are a multitude of them, many
which appear to stay in place for longer than is
reasonable or necessary.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Suspect that many searches are undertaken online, removing the
requirement for boards. Would like to see ‘to let’ boards abolished entirely
and the size of for sale boards severely limited.
NE2 1HA
Yes
1. They are unsightly and add to the ‘street clutter’
in neighbourhoods.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Steps should be taken to regulate the size and number of boards allowed
on a specific street/area as well as a degree of uniformity to their layout
and design. Furthermore, these should be mounted flush to the all above
to or next to the front door or entrance to a property.
2. The Voluntary Code on Letting Boards has failed
to adequately control the proliferation of letting
boards and suggested little more than current
planning control of advertisements regulations
already stipulate. It is also had no powers of
enforcement on non signatories to the scheme.
3. Many letting boards are near permanent fixtures
on many streets as current regulations stipulate no
time frame in which a property can be advertised
for.
4. Letting Boards promote a view of transience in an
area which can be detrimental to community
cohesion.
5. They are an advert for thieves as they often point
to households with multiple expensive possessions
(e.g. laptops) and make people aware that they are
likely to be vacant in holiday periods if in an area
popular with students.
6. The proliferation and number of letting boards is
used as a yardstick by some letting agents to
measure their dominance in an area. This has
resulted in what could be seen as an arms-race
between agents, with more and larger boards
appearing, some dominating entire fences in front of
houses.
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
7. It is used as free advertising for the agent rather
than for specific property in question. House
hunting (particularly amongst students and young
professionals) is primarily undertaken via letting
agent brochures, offices and websites.
NE2 2DU
Yes
There are many in the streets around us. They are
unsightly and often remain in place for a long time.
Two student houses in our street have, in the last
few days; put up boards presumably for the next
academic year!
Yes
No
No
Yes
No, other than that I don’t expect much to change.
NE2
Yes
There are a vast number of properties with more
than one board- this is totally unnecessary.
Yes
No
No
Yes
The Council should immediately clamp down on properties where more than
one board is displayed.
NE2 3EA
Yes
The excessive number of boards constantly on
display give Jesmond the look of being run down,
transient and neglected. Many of these are
hammered into the brick and stonework, and when
replaced leave damage, adding to the general run
down appearance of the neighbourhood.
Yes
No
No
Yes
These boards appear to be up throughout the year, with a new wave
occurring in late October in readiness for letting the following August.
Earlier this year there were over 30 boards on display in Forsyth Road
alone. The vast majority of students source accommodation on the web
and not by wandering around the streets trying to spot a nice looking flat
for rent.
NE2 3EA
Yes
The Letting Boards litter the street and look
unsightly. They give the impression that the whole
population of Jesmond is transitory and the area is
in decline.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Students are highly internet literate. Good web sites from the various
agents will probably be more effective than To Let Signs. How many
students actually look at the “To Let” boards when searching for property?
NE2 2QU
Yes
It tends to make the area look a bit scruffy and
uncared for. It also creates a constant sense of
movement and upheaval which undermines the
family feel of the neighbourhood.
Yes
No
No
Yes
I don’t like some of the slogans used as part of the “Let’s live here” agent.
The one that says “let’s recover here” clearly implies times of overindulgence and the one that says “let’s doll up here” implies regular
partying! I don’t particularly object but wish they could be counter
balanced by some that say “let’s cut the grass here” or “let’s empty the
bins here”.
NE2 2QX
Yes
They are an eyesore, once up they stay up for
months and months.
No
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 2JN
Yes
They do not seem to be removed once a property
has been let and they make the area very
unattractive and untidy, giving the impression that
the area is run-down.
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
NE2 3LA
Yes
They are unsightly and lower the tone of the areasuggesting that the area is in decline.
No
No
No
Yes
I am very supportive of measures to control the situation and to improve
the look of the area.
NE2 2JN
Yes
Sheer number is an eyesore
No
Nothing
Selected
Nothing
Selected
Yes
Some roads in Jesmond are crowded with student lets’ so that proportion of
letting boards is unsightly and some places have more than one board
outside the property.
NE2 2QT
Yes
The boards are there all year round (Central
Residential) and when contacted the reply is that
they are attracting tenants for the following
year/term.
Yes
No
No
Yes
It would appear that some of the letting agents remove boards and others
leave them in position all year round. Neither situation is acceptable to
residents near student properties neither is it fair to other agents who do
remove boards.
It reduces the visual appearance of the area as a whole.
NE2 2LE
Yes
In most cases letting boards are left for months and
damaged signs (by wind or vandalism) are often in
gardens to degrade and decay. The signs damage
Yes
No
No
Yes
N/A
Question 1
Question 2a
Question 2b
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
What is your
postcode
Are you
concerned
about the
number of
residential
letting boards
in your
neighbourhood
If you answered Yes to question 2a please state the reasons for your
concern
Are you aware
of the Voluntary
Code
introduced in
2009
Do you think
the number of
letting boards
has reduced
since the
introduction of
the code in
2009
Do you think
letting boards
are removed
quicker since
the Code was
introduced
Would you be
supportive of
the Council
taking further
action in order
to control the
display of
letting boards
Do you have any further general comments
fences and walls as well as being unsightly
generally. Equally, some sites (e.g. the electricity
sub station above barnado’s HQ on Buston Terrace)
are used to display upwards of 8 – 10 letting boards
throughout the year which are often never removed.
NE2 2LE
Yes
In most cases letting boards are left for months and
damaged sign (by wind or vandalism) are often left
in gardens to degrade and decay. The signs damage
fences and walls as well as being unsightly
generally. Equally, some sites (e.g. the electricity
sub station above Barnado’s HQ on Buston Terrace)
are used to display upwards of 8-10 letting boards
throughout the year which are often never removed.
Yes
No
No
Yes
NE1 8SB
Yes
I am completing this questionnaire as a student
representative at Northumbria Student’s Union,
representing over 36,000 students, a third of whom
we estimate to live in the private rented sector.
Yes
No
No
Yes
Not only am I supportive of this work, I would advise further that there
should be a complete ban of the use of these signs. I would argue this
point simply on the fact that they serve little purpose in these modern
times due to the use of the internet, yet cause a great deal of harm.
Yes
No
No
Yes
The voluntary code has no impact whatsoever as far as I can see. In my
opinion things have got considerably worse during the recession as letting
agents have increased their use of the boards to market their business.
There are now some streets in the neighbourhood that seem permanently
to have boards on almost every house. We do not allow other businesses
to advertise in this way, so why letting agents? It is completely
unnecessary and has a significant damaging affect on the neighbourhood
and community.
I would firstly like to note that I am fully supportive
of these proposals and believe they have been a
long time coming.
The reason why I am supportive of this work is
because ‘To-Let’s’ signs simply advertise to burglars
that students live in the property, and therefore
there will be multiple gains for one risk. Not only
this, but the signs add to the untidy and cluttered
appearance of many streets in Newcastle.
NE2 3JY
Yes
They are an eyesore and unnecessary visual clutter.
They have a significant negative impact of the
quality of the environment. They are very off
putting to families wanting to live in the area. They
are completely unnecessary as a means of letting a
property these days when accurate and up to date
information is available from agents’ websites. They
are simply a way to advertise letting agents to very
low cost to the agent and very high cost to the
neighbourhood. They are often let up for long
periods of time. They often combine with poorly
maintained properties to create a very strong
impression of neglect and lack of pride and care for
out environment and community.