IS IT TIME TO BAN ESTATE AGENT’S BOARDS?

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Please read this article and then let us know what you think?

A London council is considering a borough-wide ban on Estate Agents’ boards of all kinds. Labour-controlled Camden council already has a ban on boards for a limited period on specific roads, but it is now consulting with residents on widening the scope of the ban.

A council statement says: “Estate agent boards continue to be one of the most common complaints made to Camden’s Planning Enforcement Team. Across the borough there are examples of Estate Agents disregarding the regulations, displaying numerous boards per building and keeping them up for long periods despite properties being sold or let. Estate Agent Boards are seen by many as outdated eyesores, which merely add unnecessary clutter to our streets and take up valuable Council resources as we seek to secure their removal.”

As is often the way, the sins of the few Agents who have persistently disregarded the local by-laws may spoil it for the many Agents who are essentially law-abiding, mindful of their civic responsibilities.

Many people outside of the industry may not know that the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, Class 3: Miscellaneous temporary advertisements, regulates the use of Estate Agents boards and states that:

1. Only one sign, consisting of a single board or two joined boards, is permitted per property and it must be within the curtilage of the property

2. No board may be displayed indicating that land or premises has been sold or let unless a For Sale or To Let board was initially displayed

3. The board shall be removed within 14 days after completion of a sale or the property let

4. No board may exceed 0.5 m2 or, in the case of two joined boards, 0.6 m2

5. If a board is on a building, the maximum projection permitted is 1 metre.

6. Illumination is not permitted.

7. No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75m in height

8. No part of the advertisement may be higher than 4.6m above ground level

Aren’t those interesting facts? So, who reading this has seen;

- more than one ‘For Sale’ board at a property?

- a ‘Sold’ board go up at a house where there was no ‘For Sale’ board originally

- a board that has stayed up for weeks, or even months, after the property has changed hands?

- a board on a grass verge with the name of the house for sale written on it?

- a board at the end of a road with an arrow pointing towards the property for sale?

- a board on a house that is not for sale with an Agent’s name on it saying ‘Recommending’?

If so, they are ALL illegal boards! None of the above should happen, but worse still, the offending Agent will know that by doing it they are breaking local planning regulations, yet they are choosing to ignore the rules and do it anyway.

So, what do you think? Should Estate Agents be allowed to continue to flout the rules and cost councils time and money, or is it time to do something about it, once and for all!

We have a Poll on our Facebook page where you can VOTE and also leave any comments on this editorial. We would love to hear from you.

www.facebook.com/ilesandjenkin/posts/373942623190838

Thank you for reading!

Sue Iles