let and managed by signs - allowed?

ninky_2

next door a company has whacked up a 'let and managed by sign'. it's right in my nice view of the park.

i don't mind 'for sale' or 'to let' signs when they are actively looking to sell or rent properties but this property has long term tenants in it who have been there a while now and is clearly just an excuse for the agency to advertise themselves and they are intending on leaving it up indefinitely. is this allowed?

googler

Phone them up and ask them when they're going to take it down, then....

brightonman123

or just take it down when no one around, and leave it in the garden?

googler

brightonman123 wrote: »

or just take it down when no one around, and leave it in the garden?

OP can't take it down - it's someone else's sign (the agent's), and it appears to be on yet another person's property (a neighbour)......

tbs624

Some advertising signs do require planning permission: contact your local Council for advice.

There is also the view that such signs may attract the attention of potential burglars as they highlight shared properties where there is likely to be (a) poor security and (b) a larger than usual haul of valuable computer gear/ tellies etc.

princeofpounds

I've looked into this area before, it's pretty straightforward.

Agents are allowed to have signs up (of the normal size) for 14 days after completion of a transaction. If they take any longer and refuse a polite request to take it down, then let them know they you will report them to trading standards and the planning office. I've removed a number of signs on my street that were only there for advertising purposes.

If the sign is on your property, you can take it down but you aren't allowed to dispose of it without making reasonable efforts to contact the agent and allowing a reasonable time (tort law). If it's on someone else's there isn't much you can do except ask the tenants for permission to take it down and lie it flat somewhere.

moromir

ninky wrote: »

this property has long term tenants in it who have been there a while now and is clearly just an excuse for the agency to advertise themselves

I assume you know this for a fact, ie spoke to the tenants yesterday and know that they haven't handed in their notice?

ninky_2

moromir wrote: »

I assume you know this for a fact, ie spoke to the tenants yesterday and know that they haven't handed in their notice?

no i don't know this for a fact but as it is a 'let and manged by' sign rather than a 'to let' sign, the impression given is that it is just advertising.

it's not a life or death issue - just a bit irritating and quite in your face. i know on our leasehold flat one of the terms in the lease is no hoardings or advertising so i just wanted a bit of info on what the rules are before i approach the agency. obviously if they are within their rights to leave it there indefinitely there is not a lot i can do. however, it sounds as though there are rules so i'm within my rights to ask them to keep to those.

Abbafan1972

Well if I was the tenant of the property, I would want it taken town. I wouldn't want to advertise my personal circumstances on the front of my house.

Just like I wouldn't want the Halifax to place a sign on my house saying "mortgaged by the Halifax".

planning_officer

princeofpounds wrote: »

Agents are allowed to have signs up (of the normal size) for 14 days after completion of a transaction. If they take any longer and refuse a polite request to take it down, then let them know they you will report them to trading standards and the planning office.

Quite correct re. the 14 days - they would be in breach of the Advertising Regulations and it is actually a criminal offence to erect an advert without the necessary consent (worth pointing out to the letting agent!). You can report them to the Council's Planning Dept (not Trading Stds - they're nothing to do with it) - and the Enforcement Officers will investigate and contact the agent is necessary.

princeofpounds

Trading Stds - they're nothing to do with it

TS do actually audit EA signage sometimes:

http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=property&page=eboards03.htm

relevant legislation apparently is:

Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992

Good government guide here (you might want to include a copy for the EA!)

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/outdooradvertisements