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Should we ban 'for sale' signs? (Thursday 29/11/07)

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We recently called in ten of the borough’s leading estate agents for a discussion about what we can do to tackle the blight of estate agents’ boards in our streets. All of them were in favour of tougher action and half of them backed the idea of banning the boards outright.

We launched a blitz on boards in the Sinclair Road and Barons Court Road areas last year following complaints from residents. Previously, it was common to see hundreds of boards in the area and up to a dozen on a single property. The scheme has been so successful in clearing the forest of ‘for sale’ signs that we are now looking for other areas to target. The clampdown could be extended around other parts of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Guy Evans from the Fulham branch of Foxtons said, “The board ban in the Baron’s Court and Sinclair Road conservation areas has had a very positive effect on the aesthetics of the area. In turn this has meant higher property prices for residents.”

These boards are a really ugly and primitive way for agents to market properties. All the evidence from residents and now estate agents themselves, suggests that when you ban these boards you are not only removing an eyesore but you are enhancing the value of your property.

If you would like to suggest an area that is particularly blighted by estate agent boards or report an illegal board, please do email us at boards@lbhf.gov.uk.

Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh

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