Use of ‘To Let’ signs could be limited in future

The rules covering use of ‘To Let’ signs could be set to change in future thanks to new legislation being proposed.

Nicholas Brown, Labour MP for Newcastle Upon Tyne East, introduced a bill to the House of Commons on Wednesday (July 11th) – via a ten-minute rule motion – calling for such adverts to be restricted in cases of “overuse”, according to the Hansard recording on publications.parliament.uk.

He suggested that the aesthetic of his constituency is being affected by the number of ‘To Let’ signs, claiming that properties are more often filled via estate agents’ offices, newspaper columns and internet portals than from people seeing a sign on a street. In his view, agencies use the boards to advertise their brand.

Mr Brown indicated that firms in other coastal towns, such as the letting agents Brighton offers, may sympathise, saying: “The situation, of course, is not unique to Newcastle; the same problem occurs in a slightly different guise in seaside towns and other cities – and for the same underlying reason, I suspect.”

The bill will be read again on September 7th, reported arla.co.uk, when the Labour MP will hope to garner enough support from fellow politicians to push the legislation to the next stage – there would still be several readings and approvals it would need to go through before coming into force, even if it gains the necessary backing.