A controversial Labour-controlled council has started 2025 by challenging the private rental sector in two ways.

Reports in the Daily Telegraph say that Westminster council in London is calling on Housing Secretary Angela Rayner to allow a blanket ban on ‘to let’ and ‘for sale’ signs in the borough, claiming they cause ‘substantial harm to local character’.

The council claims the boards are ‘unsightly’ and not necessary in a digital age, adding a move to digital forms of advertising would be better for the environment. The authority wants Rayner to allow such boards to require formal planning consent before being erected. 

Westminster has requested a new Regulation 7 Direction from Rayner to indefinitely remove ‘deemed consent’ for the display of agent boards. 

Currently, regulations demand that in areas covered by the Direction, ‘express consent’ is sought from the council to install certain types of boards. But this expires on May 14, after which the display of such boards will benefit from ‘deemed consent’ – meaning no permission is required. This is what the council wants to avoid.

Not content with that, the authority now has a consultation underway to introduce a new selective licensing scheme in parts of the borough.

The scheme, if approved, would apply to all private rented properties, excluding HMOs in 15 wards across the borough. 

A spokesperson says: “The private rented housing sector continues to grow, and in Westminster, we have the largest private rented sector in the country.

“With the ongoing national housing crisis, an increased shortage of social housing and home ownership unobtainable for many, private rented housing is often the only viable option.

“We want to ensure that all private rented properties are operating legally and, above all else, safe.

“Before any decisions are made, we need the views of everyone in the borough, especially those that live in a private rented home.”

If introduced, the scheme could come into effect late this year. The consultation runs until January 19 – that’s the end of next week.