Complaints from residents living the Dales area of Liverpool have “reduced significantly” following the introduction of a ban on ‘To Let’ signs according to a new report.
Liverpool City Council first introduced a ban on visible advertising for rental properties in 2015 amid worries the boards were having a negative impact on the sustainability of the area’s housing market.
A report to be presented to the council’s Regeneration, Housing & Sustainability Select Committee tonight (1 February), says neighbourhood walkabouts have demonstrated a significant drop in the number and frequency of boards – despite the voluntary nature of the scheme.
In 2015, the council estimated there were around 500 boards in the area bounded by Wellington Road/Gainsborough Road, Smithdown Road, and the West Coast Main Line railway.
According to the new report, a small number of landlords were initially resistant to the ban and chose not to cooperate, but the majority of landlords in the area have since complied with, and in some cases, supported the initiative.
The report also notes that any further rollout of the programme to other areas of the city would be reliant on additional resources.
Last December, Your Move reported on council plans to crack down on the number of HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation) in the Dales neighbourhood.
No planning application for a change of use from a house to HMO for up to six people is currently required as planning permission for such a change is automatically granted.
Council evidence shows that the Dales has a higher than average concentration of HMOs (39%) and that has been adversely impacting on local residents’ quality of life.
Source: Your Move