IT’S that time of the year again where hundreds of for sale/to rent signs appear, turning tidy areas into a mess of advertising sites.

Entire streets and whole estates, especially in the proximity of universities, are heaving under this heavy load, almost sinking into a sea of clutter, with the signs often outnumbering the properties they advertise. Why do we have to put up with this optical intrusion?

Properties for sale/rent are already listed and adequately advertised in every estate agent’s office window or website. Other countries manage successfully selling their properties without these extra visual aids. Why can’t we?

Barbara Hudson, Badger Hill, York.