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To Let boards control

A Regulation 7 Direction gives control on the number of To Let boards in areas of the city, where there are high numbers of boards on display.

Which streets are affected by the Regulation 7 Direction?

To find out the affected addresses, see the areas linked below:

Why do we want to control the display of boards?

The number of letting boards on residential properties has become excessive in parts of the city, especially where there are high numbers of rented accommodation.  This has a negative impact on visual aspects in neighbourhoods and local residents have raised concerns that the quality of the residential environment is declining as a result, which is impacting on the housing market.  The law (Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007) already states that boards are to be removed three weeks after a property has been let, but this requirement is often ignored: some properties display them for long periods of time and some even have boards up all year round.

We have tried to tackle the issue by introducing a voluntary Code of Practice, but this was not successful in reducing the number of boards on display.

After a public consultation, we submitted an application to the Secretary of State, who has made a Regulation 7 Direction restricting ‘deemed consent’ rights for the display of residential boards. This comes into effect on 2 July 2018 and will last for five years.

What does this mean?

Normally, To Let boards benefit from 'deemed consent' rights. However, the Regulation 7 Direction has removed these rights in specified streets.

Do I have to apply for advertisement consent?

In general, yes: advertisement consent is required to display a ‘To Let’ board, which can be done by submitting a planning application, along with a fee. However, to help landlords, we will not ask for planning applications for those boards which follow a new Code of Practice. Where applications for advertisement consent are submitted, only those that comply with the Code of Practice will be considered acceptable.

What if I don't apply?

It is a criminal offence to display ‘To Let’ boards without consent.  You may be prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court. The maximum fine on conviction of an offence is currently £2,500, with an additional daily fine of £250 for a continuing offence.

How will the Direction be enforced?

There will be surveys in the areas. You can report a breach to our Compliance and Monitoring Team using the details below:

  • Online
  • telephone: 0116 454 1000
  • post: Planning Department, Leicester City Council, City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ.

Consultation

A consultation on the issue was held between 26 March 2015 and 24 April 2015, where people were asked about the impact the boards were having and what measures could control them. You can read more on the consultation by following the link below:

We considered the evidence and consultation responses to the proposed Regulation 7 Direction, at the Planning and Development Control Committee on 17 February 2016. We decided to seek the Secretary of States approval to require all letting boards on residential properties within the area to require advertisement consent.

Comments on the proposal

We invited comments on the proposed Regulation 7 Direction, which were sent to the Secretary of State.

Report appendices

You can view all the report appendices using the links below:

Proposed renewal of Regulation 7 Direction – submission to Secretary of State

Leicester City Council Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 Proposed Renewal of Direction under Regulation 7 to control of the display of 'To Let' Boards.

Notice is hereby given that Leicester City Council (‘the Council’) on 23rd June 2023 made representations to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities requesting that he renews a direction under Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (‘the 2007 Regulations’) made 9th February 2018 and implemented 2nd July 2018, to maintain restriction of the display of temporary advertisements relating to the letting of residential land or premises which are displayed on the land or premises to which they relate within areas of Windermere, Hazel, Clarendon Park, Greenhill, West End, Ashleigh Road, West End Conservation Area in Leicester.

The effect of a Direction under Regulation 7 of the 2007 Regulations would be to take away the deemed consent granted by Regulation 6 of the 2007 Regulations to temporary advertisements described in Class 3A in Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the 2007 Regulations in so far as it relates to temporary advertisements for the letting of residential land or premises.  This would mean that no temporary advertisement signs for the letting of residential properties could be displayed on the land or premises to which they relate in the prescribed area without the Council's express consent.  Full details of the Council's representations together with a map defining the areas of proposed control are available for inspection at the Customer Service Centre, 91 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FB and are also available on the Council's website at https://www.leicester.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-applications/do-i-need-permission/to-let-boards-control/

If you wish to make any representations about the making of this Direction, your written comments should be sent to the Secretary of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, as follows:

The Secretary of State, Planning Casework Unit, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, B2 4BH

Email contact details: pcu@levellingup.gov.uk to arrive not later than 16 August 2023.

Dated this 25 July 2023
Grant Butterworth, Head of Planning, Leicester City Council, City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ