Forum Topic

Misuse of Estate Agents Boards

Is anyone else fed up with Estate Agents using boards to advertise things other than property for sale or rent? I'm sure others will correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is that all advertisements need planning permission but that agents do not need to apply as long as the boards are advertising property for sale or rent and are outside the property to which they refer. Other uses appear to be illegal. Should schools and other organisations be indulging in such activities? What's next, second hand cars, double glazing? Illegal or not, this proliferation of boards is making our streets look scruffy.

Lester Moyce ● 4177d18 Comments

I'M writing from Australia, Thinking about selling my Acton Flat. What is the property market like in Acton at the moment?

TONI O ● 4122d

I secretly approve of what you are doing Diana but would never say so in public!

Andy Jones ● 4166d

Diana, you're the go-to girl!  Well done.  Love your style!

Angela White ● 4167d

What I object to is when they see railings outside a private estate gated estate that have no flats for sale and then stick their boards up but now I have invested in tin snips and I cut them down and ring the culprits up and threaten to deliver the boards to their offices, that soon stops them

Diana Oneill ● 4167d

I have a board outside my house right now as part of a scheme my Daughter's school is doing. To be honest, I don't really care what you think about it.

Alexander Powrie ● 4174d

The agents are probably willing to pay people to put these boards up because potential vendors may use the prevalence of a particular agent's boards in an area as a benchmark of their effectiveness.Agents without many genuine instructions can use this method to create the impression that they are doing good business. On extra customer generated on the back of it would cover the cost many times over. Not sure whether it is illegal or not but I don't think the Council would bother pursuing it if it was and there would probably be a way round the law if they got draconian on it. For instance you could technically put your house on the market while the board was up if Councils for some perverse reason started to clamp down on this practice.Surely before they even considered this they would clampdown on flyboarding by estate agents. I was driving through Brentford today and notice a line of 8 different agents boards outside a derelict property. It's a better than even shot that not one of these agents has a property for sale at the location but the Council doesn't have the resources to investigate unless someone complains. I'm sure the same goes for Ealing.My guess would be that at least half the boards up in the Acton area should not be there (not including the fundraising ones). If you are going to get a bee in your bonnet about boards that deliver some social good you need to explain why you are prepared to tolerate those that don't.

Andy Jones ● 4175d

I'm lost as to the illegalness of it - I've missed something, I think.

Angela White ● 4175d

I personally never let estate agents put a 'for sale' or 'sold' sign outside my house. I don't see why I should pay them to sell my house then give them free advertising. I'm not even convinced that it generates much interest given the power of the Internet.  I won't knock anyone for trying to raise money for schools in return for advertising but can't help but think that local estate agents could make a limited number of financial contributions to support their community without expecting advertising in return. Sounds naive but lots of people do it when they make donations to charities etc.

Sandra Jordan ● 4176d

Quite honestly, lets get this in context, legal or not, the odd board, and lets not get this out of proportion, advertising a school event or church event - all for a very good cause and to hopefully raise some much needed money - do not make our streets look scruffy, there are actually very few in each road, I think the dog dirt and litter are the main problem.

Kevin Bell ● 4176d

OK, so acting apparently illegally is OK then as long as it is considered by a small number of people to be in a 'good cause'Where do you think that leads to?

Lester Moyce ● 4176d

I'm all in favour of these boards sponsoring local events, such as school or church fairs.  It feels good to be part of doing that too.  When I can't give much by way of cash to raise funds for my child's school or church, then saying I'll have a board outside my home makes me feel I'm doing something really good and giving back.  What I'm not in favour of is those board being left outside for sale/rent properties for weeks/months on end.

Angela White ● 4176d

After a flat or house has been let or sold the agent is supposed to take it down within a fortnight. Just drop them an email. Generally it is down within a couple of days if you do that. I suspect some agents only take a board down if someone asks them to and there are quite a few near busy roads in the local area that don't seem to relate to any property.

Andy Jones ● 4177d

Alison. When a flat or house has ben sold or let  for a month or more and the board is still  there I always phone the agent and they take it away.

Bob Crossley ● 4177d

We have an estate agent board up to support an event at our grand-daughter's school.I'm proud to be able to do anything to support her, her school and the education of those attending it.

Adam Kimmel ● 4177d

There is an Aston Rowe board next door to me and one opposite saying "Flat let By". The flats were let months ago. If they leave them up much longer they won't need to put up new signs when the lease expires.

Alison Surtees ● 4177d

School PTA's make a lot of money from this so I have no problem with it.

Apple Leiper ● 4177d

Lester, why do you think the endemic flyboarding by some agents at key locations in the area is not worthy of comment but the short term placing of boards to support local events and raise money for local schools and charities is?

Andy Jones ● 4177d

Estate agents offer sponsorship to schools in exchange for placing a board outside of houses. Many parents sign up for this as it is a way of raising money for cash strapped schools.

Kim Rugg ● 4177d