Leeds landlords are policing the display of controversial 'To Let' boards in sensitive areas of the city.

They plan to control the kind of "proliferation" that attracted a government enquiry earlier this year.

And the situation is being watched for repercussions in other parts of the UK, especially where there are large university or college student populations.

"We need to ensure that landlords can properly promote their available properties - but there can be many other local issues to take into account," says city landlord Chris Town, Chairman of the leading Residential Landlords Association whose national membership owns 100,000 UK properties.

The government enquiry took place in February after complaints about the high number of 'To Let' boards in the inner-city's Kirkstall, Burley, Headingley and Woodhouse areas.

As a result, a ruling now requires express planning permission to erect a 'To Let' board for a three-year trial period.

Over half the houses, in some parts of the area, are occupied by three quarters of the local student population. And there can be strong competition among landlords during the main 'flat-hunting' period at the beginning of each year.

"But it's not just a student issue," says Chris Town. "Anyone looking for somewhere to live needs to be able to identify what properties are available

"However, parts of Headingley do fall into a conservation area and it's important to understand other considerations and sensitivities … without dramatically restricting business for local private landlords."

· The Residential Landlords Association (tel: 0845 666 5000) is a leading national organisation for professional landlords, residential property investors and self-managers - with members owning over 100,000 properties in the UK private rented sector. The range of members' services - on www.rla.org.uk - includes legal advice, insurance, financial services, credit referencing and training. For tenants there is www.tenantdocs.co.uk - where tips include a free download of the RLA's award-winning Plain English tenancy agreement. The RLA operates a web-based property search on www.homes2rent.net and publishes the bi-monthly Residential Property Investor magazine.

The Residential Landlords Association (tel: 0845 666 5000) is a leading national organisation for professional landlords, residential property investors and self-managers - with members owning over 100,000 properties in the UK private rented sector. The range of members' services - on www.rla.org.uk - includes legal advice, insurance, financial services, credit referencing and training. For tenants there is www.tenantdocs.co.uk - where tips include a free download of the RLA's award-winning Plain English tenancy agreement. The RLA operates a web-based property search on www.homes2rent.net and publishes the bi-monthly Residential Property Investor magazine.

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Brian Johnson at Powell Communications - tel: 0161 834 9836, fax: 0161 839 2660; brian.johnson@powell-pr.co.uk