Group snaps 40 examples of 'illegal' sale/let boards

A shadowy organisation which identifies estate agents' boards it claims have been illegally erected now wants board angels' to help by looking out for other examples around the country.

Estate Agent Today reported last week that the organisation - called UK Board Watch 2015 and appearing to be a resuscitated version of a campaign which started on social media back in July 2012 - was based in Cheltenham and was tweeting photographs of boards with the Twitter hashtag #illegalboards.

Now the group, which uses the Twitter handle @3flyingducks, has issued a statement saying it is intent on bringing local estate agents to task over flagrant breaches of planning laws when it comes to the erection of for sale, sold and to let boards.

It claims the boards it publicises are displayed in direct breach of planning laws, specifically set out under Class 3 of the Guide for Outside Advertisements.

The statement includes quotes from the organisation's co-ordinator of operations - rather conveniently called Bruce Boardman'.

He says: Any agent is entitled to erect a notice to aid with the marketing of the property, be it for sale or to let. However it is also clear that the board must remain within the curtilage of the property in question. Boards are a visual marketing tool and it appears common practice for agents to erect more than one at a property (ie both front and rear) or on a more visual advantage point say on the railings of the main road, this is also known as fly-boarding.

Originally started in Cheltenham, the group claims interest is gathering pace across the country.

Boardman' says: It really is a shame that an industry which does so much good in the local communities feel the need to be above the law. Market share by fair means is OK but to try and gain this by other methods quite frankly should be frowned upon.

So far the organisation claims to have collected nearly 40 examples of allegedly illegal boards in as many days.

But it concludes its statement by saying: The majority of them have been illegal erected by a very small number of local agents (time and time again), whilst the majority of the agents play the one board, one-property rule.