Estate Agent has plonked huge 'LET BY' signs at the entrance to our estates

Hi,

I would be grateful if I could advice / comments in relation to this matter.

I live in low-density estate of 80 houses in a very picturesque location, primarily consisting of owner-occupiers - we have about 6 properties owned by landlords. I am also treasurer of the residents association. During the past few days, an estate agent which has just newly set-up in the town has plonked a huge 'LET BY' sign to the entrance to our estate - the entrance is just off one of the main arteries to the town. We have had estate agent boards advertised previously, but they have all related to either 2nd hand properties for sale, or the original advertising for new houses by the estate agent that promoted the estate.

This has p***ed off both myself and my wife, and many of our neighbours, as we see this as the new estate agent promoting themselves through essentially free advertising with road frontage. I am wondering what rights we have to force the estate agent to remove the sign, as it was erected without permission of the residents association.

I will be calling on them personally tomorrow to ask them informally to remove this board, and if unsuccesful with this, I will be writing a formal request for them to remove the sign - I don;t think I'm a crank in relation to this, but I don't want this precedent set, especially since the vast majority of houses are owner-occupiers.

Appreciate any thoughts / suggestions on this matter.

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Well you could get on to the planning authority since as far as I know all such signs really require planning permission. Although to be honest I have a sneaking sympathy for the estate agent if they are new to the business and are trying to drum up trade. I would think you are right to make a personal approach as the first port of call since they will not want to annoy potential customers.

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Can't ye just knock it down in the night-as residents? Again and again if necessary? (we did this with our own house one-it was left up for a few days after we moved in--so we said 'sod that'....threw it down hidden behind the wall, though left it there for them to collect). i am sure they dont have planning permission to advertise in this way.

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

A similar situation arose outside a friends apartment complex, at one stage there were 6 estate agent signs up that really affected the apperance of the place.

This was raised at a residents commitee meeting, voted on and it was decided to let the estate agents know they had one week to take down the signs or the commitee would remove them. After all the common areas are owned by the residents so they should be able to decide whats put up in them.

Estate agents didn't come in the end, probably calling their bluff but they had no come back when the signs were removed (without damage).

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Couldn't you classify it as illegaly dumped rubbish and bin it?

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Ok, so a number of questions for you:
Is the sign on a common area or on a wall to the front of a property?
Has the estate been taken in charge by your local authority?
Have you called the litter department, NOT the planning department to ask them what their policy is?
FINALLY, ask the letting agent to take it down. There are guidelines in the litter regulations somewhere, will post back if I find them, that signs should only stay erected for a maximum of 7 days after the deal has closed.

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Ok, so a number of questions for you:
Is the sign on a common area or on a wall to the front of a property?

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We have a rail fence around the boundary of the estate, and this sign is actually planted inside the boundary fence. Let me also explain that it the sign is about 8ft high ( the auctioneers board is about 4ft x 3ft wide). It looks like the type of sign that would be erected outside a commercial office or small industrial unit letting / sale.

Has the estate been taken in charge by your local authority?

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No, not yet. The developers have one site left for one 4 bed detached bungalow, which they have planning permission for - at the moment, they are developing a similar type of low density development across the road, and may build this last house over the next year. However the residents association have taken the maintenance of the common areas of the estate in charge already - we received a donation from the developers towards this.

Have you called the litter department, NOT the planning department to ask them what their policy is?

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No, but I have a very good contact in the council that can follow this up? any suggestions?

FINALLY, ask the letting agent to take it down. There are guidelines in the litter regulations somewhere, will post back if I find them, that signs should only stay erected for a maximum of 7 days after the deal has closed.

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I will follow up with the litter department.

Last night, Mrs Gonne was speaking to her sister who lives in another estate about a mile from here. Mrs Gonne sister said that this estate agent, had also erected a sign of similar size outside the entrance to her estate for a house that the estate agents had sold.....eight weeks ago. Methinks the new agency isn't going so good, and this group are trying to pull out all the stops to drum up business!

[Edited by DrMoriarty to fix formatting]

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

PS Sorry for all the italics, still trying to get the hang of posting here.

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

JohnGonne said:

. We have had estate agent boards advertised previously, but they have all related to either 2nd hand properties for sale, or the original advertising for new houses by the estate agent that promoted the estate.

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Why do you threat a "TO LET" sign differently than a "FOR SALE" sign?

Reading between the line, i do not think that the sign is the real issue. The real issue is that you and your neighbours do not want tenants to live in your estate.
Think that one day, you could be the one letting your home.
It is more than likely that the house will be let and sign gone before you have contacted the local authority & litter department......

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Bacchus,

I think you've missed the point - this isn't a 'TO LET' sign; it is a 'LET BY' sign i.e. the house is already let. A 'TO LET' sign was never erected - I don't know even if they did actually rent a property in our estate.

I think you're being also being a bit presumptious, to say that my negihbours and I do not want tenants in our estate. I have no problems with houses being let - people have to live somewhere. What I do have a problem with is estate agents sticking up huge signs (this isn't the standard board you would see outside a residential estate!) without permission in order to drum up business!

I am going to speak to the other members of the residents association this weekend, and then approach the estate agent informally next week, and ask him to remove the sign within 1 week. After that, it will be a formal letter copying the IAVI or other auctioneers association stating to take down the board within one week. If this doesn't work, I will go out and take down the damn thing myself - at that stage the sign will have been up for three weeks. I would think that a reasonable approach.

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Ok, got the information from the council. In summary this is it

1) Estate agents are allowed to erect signs advertising structure for sale / to let. Such advertisements shall not exceed 0.6 sqm in size. If there is an advertisement relating to a second structure, such advertisements shall not exceed 1.2sqm (0.6 sqm by 2).
2) Only one advertising board per estate agent
3) Such signs must be removed within 7 days of the close of transaction ie post closing of sale, or letting of property otherwise planning permission is required.

So it seems pretty clear - estate agent has to remove it by next Wednesday otherwise it's unauthorised, and can be removed.

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

I have to say when i first read the post I was wondering what your problem was .........but the size of the sign would probably annoy me.

I don't see why you would have a problem with a smaller sign though - you musnt have too many things to worry about if that is what you are concerned about!

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Just a question..

Do you object to the 'For Sale' signs as well or is your specific problem with 'To Let' signs.

As an aside I have notice in Kerry over the last few months that signs are appearing inside the front Bedroom windows of houses.

aj

Re: Estate Agents 'To Let' signs

Ok, just to clarify - it's not a 'TO LET' sign. It's a 'LET BY' sign, and it is excessively large - again it looks like the type of sign that you would see outside a commercial or office development.

Ajapale, no I don't object to 'for sale' signs; winnie, I have no problem with smaller signs.I just wanted to ask the specific question to the members of the board to see what constructive advice is out there. The most recent responses seem to be making insinuations out of my original question - or would the members out there who live in estates, when faced with this situation just shrug their shoulders and do nothing?

I think I ended up answering my own question anyway, so if anyone is interested - here's the most recent update. Turns out this estate agent had been literally plastering these same signs over all the large estates here in the town - most of which he never actually performed any sales or letting service. They all were erected in the last week - a number of complaints were made to the local council on Wednesday & Thursday (none by myself, I will add), the litter warden had a word in his shell-like, so to speak, and the signs were removed last night.

End of story. Moderator, please close this thread

Sorry JohnG,

It wasnt my intention to insinutate anything.

Ive changed the title to more accurately describe the problem.

Estate Agent has plonked huge 'LET BY' signs at the entrance to our estates

Im glad the matter has been resolved and that you have shared your experience (relating to the activities of this "rogue" estate agent) with us.

aj