I call it the Berlin Wall of Brighton, the device of a spiritually-impoverished society, the perpetual reminder of those who rent versus those who own: The estate agent's placard.

Our placard, left there for more than two years, says "Let by", next door's "To let" and, further along the road, a "Sold by" sign has perniciously invaded our space.

I remember four years ago, when I moved to the coast, there were not as many. But they have gradually bred all over our city.

Talking to my British friends about this (I'm French), none had noticed the full extent of the situation.

They don't make a fuss about it because this is what naturally derives from a country where estate agents control the housing market.

And not only are most of the flats and houses too expensive, the value of money has also depreciated considerably. I presume it's the price to pay for a new city to excel in popularity.

A lot of our friends have moved further out, to Shoreham, Portslade or Patcham, where they get much better accommodation for a decent rent.

Great, but what about those who are not willing to make this compromise or those who don't earn much and for whom moving out of Brighton means entirely rethinking their life plans?

A study by the National Housing Federation reveals you need to earn more than £30,000 to buy an average home in most English counties. Which strands of society have access to that amount?

Some consider buying and some have bought and think about renting their place because they can't afford their mortgage any longer - a vicious circle in which renting seems to be the ultimate solution until one's financial circumstances evolve.

Have you tried to rent a home directly from a property owner out of the path of estate agencies?

I have and it's upsetting because they are practically non-existent.

In line with the rise of the rents, many landlords have given in to the old system, unable to resist the temptation.

It's cost-effective, easier and colder.

You would think one of the purposes of these agencies would be to facilitate communication between landlords and tenants. I believe it is to suppress it entirely.

What is Brighton and Hove City Council doing? I can't help but think it has let us down.

In fact, it has admitted it does not have the resources to start a real change of attitudes. Why not?

We can no longer rely on a housing system that doesn't encompass the changing components of our society.

We need a thorough, council-led public debate on the housing market in Brighton and Hove and its effects on our population.

This is the way forward as surely the cloning presence of these ugly placards in our streets reflects a worrying decline in freedom, care and respect for everyone who lives here.

-Alice Hartmann, Colbourne Road, Brighton