Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Can We Get Haringey To Ban Estate Agents Signs?
The Evening Standard have reported that Hammersmith & Fulham have just planned to extend the areas of their borough in which estate agents signs of any variety are banned. They are already banned in some parts of the borough. Story here
As you can see, Hammersmith started with a consultation (don't they always) - and once they'd got a near-100% approval for the ban, they
went ahead.
So why won't Haringey go the same way? They could at least make a start with our beautiful Green Lanes parade.
Now how about some of those candidates putting this on their manifesto? All they have to promise is to do a consultation to see how favourable it would be and then act on the consultation. Which, after all, is what local politicicans claim they always do innit.
As you can see, Hammersmith started with a consultation (don't they always) - and once they'd got a near-100% approval for the ban, they
went ahead.
So why won't Haringey go the same way? They could at least make a start with our beautiful Green Lanes parade.
Now how about some of those candidates putting this on their manifesto? All they have to promise is to do a consultation to see how favourable it would be and then act on the consultation. Which, after all, is what local politicicans claim they always do innit.
Tags for Forum Posts: Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, estate agents, estate agents signs, green lanes, visual character
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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The decision to ban the display of estate agents board isn't something any council takes lightly which is why do few places are covered. As unpopular as they seem, estate agents are in the business of making money from selling properties AND residents do want people to know that their property is for sale by displaying boards.
On the issue of planning enforcement, yes of course they are supposed to be taken down a certain time after a sale and enforcement can take action to secure this but I think we have to be realistic about the resources they have. They have to prioritise the most damaging issues and this may mean that some more minor infringements go unchecked. I for one would much rather the handful of staff Haringey have, pursued HMOs than estate agents boards. It's not just a local issue either - all council have real problems employing enforcement staff as its not a particularly popular job after spending three years qualifying as a planner!
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Permalink Reply by Steve Hatch on
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I have to agree with Michael on this, (as most of you know I am a local Estate Agent) and I am not afraid to stick my head above the parapet on this subject.
There are some persistent offenders yes. The reality is that many vendors who are selling actually want a For Sale board; the big issue is ensuring that the boards erected are done so responsibly, and perhaps more importantly, taken down again within the prescribed time!
I had a meeting with Patrick Sullivan recently Re the slightly different matter of sharing ideas and looking at ways that Estate Agents can pass on council information leaflets on recycling, rubbish collection times, bulky item collection etc. to new tenants and new residents. As you would expect the subject of Board enforcement came up and the message that came across was that they are frustrated but overstretched.
As Michael points out, it is probably best that the council use their extra funding to prioritise and chase the other problems associated with HMO's
How about having a 'board watch page' or a forum on HOL that allows members to flag up a particular infringement. The agent can be given the opportunity to rectify and deal with any complaint responsibly, knowing that there could be (2000 plus members) watching the updates should be incentive enough.
Just an idea!
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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on
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Great idea Steve, anybody wishing to remove the illegal signs could do so. If the council are not going act on the illegal signs maybe we as a community could do.
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Unless I am mistaken a person is well within their rights to take down a board from their premises, best advice is to let the agent know that it is not wanted, and leave it somewhere safe (taking care with nails sticking out etc.) where they can arrange to have a contractor collect it.
If they don't then take this seriously they are probably asking for it!
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Permalink Reply by Stuart on
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Frankly, no, not really. The whole point of going for a ban is that life's too short to have spend time monitoring this kind of thing when it's the overall impact of the visual pollution of ALL the signs combined that is so detrimental. Entering into some kind of whack-a-mole scheme for single boards seems like a lot of effort for zero overall gain.
This discussion seems to have become very focussed on signs in residential areas. As I said in my post, Haringey could at least start with a ban in relation to the Grand Parade. It's chocka with lovely historic buildings that are utterly defaced with boards, many of which are up for months. Plus it's people's first impression usually of Harringay. What I don't understand is why anyone (apart from estate agents, and even then, only some) would possibly oppose a ban on estate agents signs ONLY on Green Lanes (even if it were never extended to residential parts like the Ladder). Particularly given the number of people on HOL who were extremely vociferous when it was a MacDonalds banner that was up over the bridge.
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Permalink Reply by philipjm on
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Everyone hates them until it comes to selling or renting your property.... They're still a decent advertising tool even with the expansion of internet marketing / web based property portals.
Provided that the agents comply with the legislation then I dont think they're a huge issue, but often boards are not removed within the required timescale.
An agent who shall remain nameless *COUGH COUGH - PAUL SIMON - COUGH COUGH* persistently put up "Let By" boards over the series of several weeks at....ermmm.....a friends house, despite a total stranger sawing them down again within hours of them being put up.
Perhaps the middle ground is to impose legislation on the board companies to ensure they are removed within X period.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Provided that the agents comply with the legislation
Is there not a byelaw that estate agents' signs must not overhang footpaths?
I've seen signs that are fixed to walls so they are perpendicular to the wall: half the sign sticks out over the footpath.
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Permalink Reply by Protheroe O'Shea on
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Personally when I want to buy or rent a property i do not scour the streets looking for houses with for sale/to let signs out side, I go to the estate agent. I dont see much use for boards other that a rather untidy method of advertising estate agencies.
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I agree and I think most people would approach buying or renting in the same way. These ugly boards are not to advertise the property for sale; they're an excuse to get cheap advertising for the estate agent company. In aggregate, they are an eyesore, visual pollution.
One day, some genius will come up with the right formula for a universal property website (like Amazon for books, Apple for music and Ebay for stuff etc.) and bring efficiency to the costly, fragmented real estate 'industry'.
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Great news for you Clive... the genius did that over ten years ago, they are called Rightmove, Primelocation, FindaProperty, PropertyFinder Etc.
They compete in the same way that Amazon and Ebay do. Yet there are still a very nice couple of chaps at the Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green that provide a 'whites of the eyes' approach for customers that prefer a personal service.
Tesco's will even be offering properties for sale soon and guess what, some contractor will drive in from nowhere and erect a for sale board... Why? because the owners want one.
Don't get me wrong, I also dislike boards as many of you know, but they do have their uses. You could perhaps liken their use to the same way that you still find estate agents advertising property in the local newspaper, despite the balance swinging to mainly online advertising (with the 'Genius'). Different people use dfferent mediums etc.
All Estate Agents are facing increasing competition, so upsetting local people is very short sighted. You have all the tools you need right here to deal with this, I can assure you. Professionally erected For Sale boards are not a major problem if the agents adopt a responsible approach.
I do agree with Bushy though, the Commercial boards are something else, and many of these agents aren't even local, they could very well be totally oblivious to local feeling towards them?
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Hi Steve, I thought you might comment! I'm aware that there have existed for some time property web sites such as those you cite. But I did say come up with the right formula.
The fact you are able to mention several, none of which has the mind-share of an Amazon, eBay or iTunes, says to me that they're little better than individual estate agents who have a web page. I'm thinking of a formula/proposition that is so good that few people in their right minds would choose to go elsewhere. At present the web market for estate agents is not significantly less fragmented that that for high street agents, would you agree?
There will always be a need for estate agency, but it strikes me that the current setup is expensive and inefficient and is crying out for the right web formula. It would require a lot of investment, a big sophisticated database and lots of promotion. I think it will happen in time and offer big savings widely. When it happens, I suspect that a lot of small estate agents will go out of business, Just as eBay etc have been game changers.
Whoever comes up with that right formula will be hugely rewarded (cash money) and rightly deserve the thanks of the public. Steve?!
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