Sussex agents to fight ban on boards

Estate agents and letting businesses in Hove and Brighton, Sussex, are fighting a proposed ban on their boards.  The local branch of the National Association of Estate Agents is taking legal advice in the long-running dispute.

Brighton and Hove City Council already restricts boards on some listed buildings in parts of the city, and now plans to extend the ban to other conservation areas, maintaining that agents do not need boards as a marketing device.

A public consultation drew widespread support for banning the boards.

Under the new restrictions, which require final approval from the Government Office for the South East, boards will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances and will require specific permission.

Brighton councillor Geoffrey Theobald said: "Estate agents' boards are a real eyesore in some of some of our historic streets, where there are frequently several on one building.”

He added: "Most people looking to buy or rent a home in the city centre go direct to local estate agents' offices, pick up a property paper or magazine, or go on websites. They don't rely on estate agents' boards. Where a property needs extra marketing if, for example, it is particularly run down and needs extensive renovation, the agent or home owner will be able to apply to put up a board.”

In parts of Camden, London, boards are banned.  In Leeds, a long-running battle between the council and student landlords and agents ended in a government inquiry. The upshot was that in August 2005, the council was given powers to ban To Let signs for three years but has apparently not needed to enforce it, with landlords and agents getting the message that their signs are not welcome.