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Colourful flat signs are disappearing from student residences near the campus, and the University of Otago is encouraging anyone with information about them to come forward.

A complaint has been made to university proctor Dave Scott about a sign disappearing from a flat in Leith St.

According to student magazine Critic Te Arohi other flats have also been targeted.

Among them were the The Hoe-Tel, in Castle St, and the Birdcage in Dundas St.

The Hoe-tel flatmates Paige Friend and Anna Anderson said they noticed the sign had disappeared about three weeks ago.

Although they could always make another, the one that had disappeared was special because it had the names of previous tenants of the flat - and they were hoping whoever took it would return it.

Another Castle St flat, the Bic, was also missing its sign - and Ms Friend said she had heard a sign had been taken from yet another flat in the area.

Birdcage resident Elinor Clark (21) said the sign from their flat disappeared about Easter.

She was "angry and disappointed" it had gone, as it had been hand-painted by her flatmate.

The sign had been chained and zip-tied to the flat, and would have been difficult to remove.

A university spokeswoman said the university had the power to fine students or impose community service for unlawful behaviour, and to suspend or exclude them.

Scarfie Flats co-author Sarah Gallagher, who has compiled a collection of flats along with Ian Chapman, said she had heard of the flat signs being stolen, for instance as part of the "red card" system whereby each person in a flat set out a list of activities for their flatmates had to complete.

"Sometimes it's just friendly. Obviously, that might not always be the case."