Bored of Boards?
Bored of boards ? – A discussion Paper by John Horton of Horton & Garton Estate Agents
The likelihood is that the estate agent’s For Sale sign’s days in areas of London are on borrowed time.
In my 30 year career estate agent career I know a few things about the estate agents board… however is the oldest, most cost effective marketing tool available to an estate agent and property seller about to be assigned to history?
There is a growing tide of community opinion that people are ‘bored of boards’ and they are seen as visual pollution to roads, streets and neighbourhoods and should be banned… once and for all…
Some estate agents, not mentioning ‘the usual suspects’ do not help themselves or the industry by continuously flouting the Town and County Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (TCPR) which stipulates…. Only one per property is allowed, which is hard to regulate on blocks of flats, and they have to be removed within 14 days of a sale or let being completed which doesn’t always happen.
In LB of Hammersmith you can report a rogue estate agent and contact the council’s Planning Enforcement Team on 020 8753 1081 or by email enfcomplaints@lbhf.gov.uk.
In LB of Hounslow you can report to https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20158/customer_services/1402/make_a_complaint_or_comment/2 or write to: Customer Relations Team, London Borough of Hounslow, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 3EB or by Telephone 020 8583 5211
Councils can restrict the use of For Sale signs in selected ‘conservation’ areas. LBH&F already have six Regulation 7 areas in the borough and in these areas the display of estate agent boards is not permitted unless advertisement consent has been granted by the council which came into force on 21 March 2015 for a period of 10 years. Full details of all these areas please click this link… https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/planning/planning-enforcement/estate-agent-advertising-boards
In LBH7F the council carry out regular inspections of these areas ensuring no estate agent boards are being displayed. If you do live within these areas and notice a board that you suspect is being displayed without consent, you can contact the council’s Planning Enforcement Team on 020 8753 1081 or email enfcomplaints@lbhf.gov.uk. Some parts of Westminster already ban estate agent boards under the Regulation 7 Direction, which came into effect in 2010 and was itself a tidying up of older legislation dating back as far as 1994, which covers some of Westminster’s heritage and conservation areas, is intended to improve the areas’ visual appearance by reducing street clutter caused by the adverts.
Westminster council are now bringing in regulations for a complete ban of boards which the property industry is now following closely.
The rationale for “The Estate Agents Board”…
1. Helping buyers and tenants find local properties
While online searches are common, boards provide immediate, tangible visibility to those exploring neighborhoods. “For Sale and To Let” boards remain a crucial way for potential buyers to discover homes in specific areas.
2. Showcasing the agents local expertise The board is the oldest marketing method available to the listing agent and the number of boards highlight the agent’s presence and expertise in their patch and postcode. Vendors and Landlords often select agents based on the visibility of their boards, which can signal trustworthiness and local market knowledge.
3. Upholding the right to advertise
Property owners have the legal right to advertise their homes with boards, just as builders and other contractors can promote their services. Restricting boards unfairly targets estate agents while other trades retain this right. Existing laws already govern board placement, size, and duration, ensuring they don’t become unsightly when rules are followed
4. Accessibility and inclusivity for all buyers and tenants Boards cater to demographics less familiar with online property searches, such as older buyers, ensuring inclusivity. Their visibility allows everyone, regardless of digital literacy, to access property information whilst travelling through an area.
5. Cost effective marketing “For Sale” boards provide sellers with a low-cost, 24/7 marketing tool that directly engages the local community. They often prompt word-of-mouth interest and generate inquiries that online listings alone might not capture, resulting in faster sales with competing interest.
6. Enforce – don’t ban Rather than banning boards outright, councils should focus on enforcing existing rules to prevent misuse by rogue agents. The few rogue agents , they know who they are, know the rules and regulations and simply ignore them. Most estate agents follow regulations, and targeted action against repeating offenders would address concerns about visual clutter without penalizing compliant agents or property owners.
7. Fundraising
Many local agents sponsor and promote community, school and charity events and schools, charities and a potential blanket ban on boards could affect this stream of fundraising…
My opinion and summary…
The estate agent boards have always been and are an essential part of the property market, connecting buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants with agents. They provide visibility, promote local expertise and ensure accessibility for all demographics. Strengthening enforcement of existing regulations and naming and fining the repeat offenders is a fairer and more effective solution than imposing a blanket ban, which undermines their significant benefits to all parties.