The Conservatives have called for a ban on estate agents’ boards to be extended more widely across Brighton and Hove.
Councillor Robert Nemeth has written to Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive Geoff Raw after the matter was raised by a resident.
The ban was originally brought in when the council was run by a Conservative administration in 2010 and covers a number of conservation areas.
A letter from Councillor Nemeth is due to be considered by the council’s Economic Development and Culture Committee this afternoon (Thursday 16 June).
He wrote: “I write with respect to the popular and successful introduction in 2010 of a ban on estate agents’ boards in certain areas in the city that was introduced by the council.
“The issue was highlighted by a member of the public, Caroline Lynch, at a meeting of the Economic Development and Culture Committee last year.
“Ms Lynch specifically requested an extension of the ban to … wards that are not currently covered and referred to the 2009 Student Housing Strategy which recommended this action.
“Although Ms Lynch’s request was turned down, she was told that those carrying out a review of the Student Housing Strategy would be in touch with Ms Lynch with a view to making progress by alternative means.
“In the first instance, I would like an update on this specific point.
“On the matter more generally, I would certainly like to see an extension of the area that is covered by the ban as do many residents and, indeed, the Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association.
“As the Secretary of State noted when the council initially applied for the ban, it should apply just to the streets which have been most affected by sub-division of properties and which are of greatest uniformity of townscape.
“There are many streets … such as St Aubyns or Livingstone Road, which do satisfy the Secretary of State’s criteria, that were left off for what appears to be administrative simplicity.
“They fell just outside, respectively, the Cliftonville and Hove Station Conservation Areas which are covered.
“These roads, and many others near by, are permanently blighted by boards and would, therefore, be ideal candidates for inclusion.
“I respectfully request that a review is carried out so that other roads which satisfy the criteria can be added to the area in question without further delay.”
Many of these boards are fake anyway, in that they are just erected for general advertising purposes only and do not genuinely relate to sale of a specific property.
Targets are high rises and bldgs with flats where it is harder to prove there is no client !
Although I understand that they do not look good, I think that there are far more serious issues with estate agences to worry about: what about abusive 6 month contracts (when they promise renewals of a year or more!), what about the fact that they take such a percentage of the monthly rent that the monthly rent rocket high, scourge families by draining their finances and little savings. As you do need to save to afford deposits (some times 2 rental months) + a month in advance. A lot of families cannot afford to move, or afford better houses, or some areas of town. Estate agents do also very little to assure the families or students, are in decent proprieties, …and the list would be long!! In 2 years we saw ours ONCE, they called twice when our payments was a day late!! They also categories tenants and judge if you are worth they time or not!
Is anything being done to controle this?!
Which is in my opinion as a family tenants FAR MORE important than boards! LV