Letting agents have warned Westminster Council that its plan to ban advertising boards outside landlords' properties borough-wide could cause delays for renters.
The authority has banned boards in conservation areas since 2009, but councillors now want to extend this throughout the central London borough. Propertymark says although it recognises the need to protect Westminster’s aesthetic appeal, these measures could disproportionately impact responsible property agents.
The direction - Regulation 7 - is designed to prevent “excessive or inappropriate displays of boards”, protecting the unique characteristics of neighbourhoods, particularly in conservation areas. When Regulation 7 is in place, property agents need council consent before erecting boards.
Propertymark believes any changes must balance these considerations with the needs of property agents and the wider housing sector. It wants to see data to evaluate the current impact, including enforcement statistics, the number of sales and lettings boards in these areas, and evidence of issues with boards outside the current enforcement zones.
It adds: “Requiring permission could introduce property sales and rental processes delays. Propertymark has asked the council to explain how permissions will be granted and the timelines for decision-making to avoid unnecessary disruptions.”
Westminster Council has applied to the Housing Secretary to make the change as it explains: “Inappropriate placements, placements by multiple agencies in a concentrated space, placement on multiple levels of a building, and installations for very long periods of time can all contribute to a deterioration in the character and amenity of the public realm.
"This can then all lead to reduced investment in such areas – negatively impacting on employment and development opportunities.”
The authority explains that if it is unable to expand the direction to cover the entire city, it will seek to cover all conservation areas.
The current direction expires in May and a public consultation ends on 3rd February.
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