No 'let' off for landlords as council gets tough on rogue boards
August 7, 2006 10:08 PM
Rogue landlords have been brought to book by Leeds City Council for failing to comply with new letting board regulations. Fines totalling nearly £2000 have been issued to landlords who have breached the letting board code of conduct currently operating in Headingley. Local Councillor's Martin Hamilton and James Monaghan have welcomed the first prosecutions.
Councillor Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) said, "This sends out a clear message that landlords and letting agents must stick to the rules or face the consequences."
Councillor James Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) added, "The majority of landlords are complying with the code of conduct. The minority are letting the side down."
Under the letting restriction rules, whilst the council can only "enforce" the letting board restrictions in Headingley, an identical voluntary code operates in the wider Hyde Park, Burley and Weetwood areas. In return for allowing a limited use of boards within Headingley, agents and landlords are expected to apply the same scheme in the wider area.
However some landlords have continued to use the large old boards within the voluntary area, thus going against the spirit of the scheme.
Cllr Martin Hamilton said, "At a recent consultation meeting, I made it clear that if landlords were not prepared to stick to the voluntary code across the wider area, we will be calling for an effective ban on boards in the Headingley area - something we have the power to do. Alternatively, we could apply to the government inspector for the restricted area to be extended to incorporate the voluntary area."
Notes
1. The companies/landlords prosecuted were:
• M R Denton - fined £934.96. inc costs.
• Hallett - fined £450.00 - inc. costs.
• Morgans - fined £150 inc. costs.
2. A further 18 prosecutions are pending and 20 new prosecutions are being prepared following recent surveys of the area by Compliance Officers.
3. The code of conduct, which came into full force on March 1st is as follows:
• Only one board per building will be permitted.
• Each board will conform to the following layout: 34cm x 48cm or 48cm x 34cm.
• The board shall be mounted flush to the wall above the front door, or if that is not possible, it shall be mounted flush to the wall on the street frontage elevation. In either instance, no part of the board shall be higher than 3.6 metres above ground level
• The board shall have a white background with black text. Up to 20% of the board may be occupied by a logo (which may be in colour).
• One board shall be permitted per agent, per type of property, per street. An agent shall have no more than 3 boards in a street at any one time.
• There shall be no 'Let By' signs.
• To Let' boards shall be removed not later than 14 days of the granting of a tenancy for the room, house or flat in question.
• All 'To Let' boards shall be removed by 1st November each year with no new boards being erected until 1st December.
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