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Back in the day, before the internet or Rightmove came along, the easiest way to tell people your house was for sale was to stick a big old sign in your garden or window. Despite the fact that everything is done online now the old tradition persists, but one borough in central London seems to think it’s time to move on from the ‘for-sale’ sign.
Westminster Council is planning to impose a blanket ban on estate-agents and those selling their homes placing ‘for-sale’ signs outside of their properties unless they are given explicit permission from May of this year. It has asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government for permission to remove what is called ‘deemed consent’, which means that agents don’t need to ask before putting up a sign as long as it is within the regulatory sizing, in the borough for an indefinite period of time.
This isn’t a brand new concept for Westminster, which has already banned the placards from certain conservation areas in order to minimise the visual clutter in the borough's most historical streets. Now, the council is arguing that the whole city of Westminster deserves the same treatment, and that they aren’t even necessary in 2025, when most people find and buy properties online.
Some have also expressed concern that some agents don’t adhere to the regulatory standards, using boards that are too big or placing more than one per property, especially in blocks of flats. Additionally, some are not removed within the designated 14 days after a sale. Assessing requests on a case-by-case basis would prevent this from happening.
Permission will likely be granted by the government, with the new policy going into effect in May. If it is denied, things will likely continue as they have been, with the council potentially expanding what it counts as a ‘historic’ area.
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