Estate agents are facing calls for tighter regulation over the use of ‘For Sale’ and ‘To Let’ boards, with concerns that some firms are leaving signage in place long after properties have been sold or withdrawn from the market.
The practice has drawn criticism from industry figures who argue that outdated boards are being used primarily for brand visibility rather than legitimate property marketing purposes.
Concerns over misleading marketing
Nathan Kider, founder of Nathan K Real Estate, has called for intervention from the Property Ombudsman, stating that boards are remaining on properties for months after sales have concluded or marketing has ceased.
“You walk down many streets in London and there are multiple ‘for sale’ signs up on houses that have been there for months,” said Kider. “The market is volatile currently and this looks like it is becoming a tactic to drum up business which is ethically wrong.”
The criticism comes as the property sector navigates ongoing market volatility and economic uncertainties that have affected transaction volumes across the country.
Council enforcement action
Local councils across the UK have taken enforcement action against estate agents over so-called fly-boarding, with investigations ongoing in multiple jurisdictions. The practice involves leaving boards in place without proper authorisation or after their legitimate marketing purpose has ended.
Kider argued that the tactic “falsely creates an impression that the local property market is dynamic or that a particular estate agent is popular,” adding that it misleads consumers about market conditions in their area.
Digital versus traditional marketing
The issue has emerged despite agents’ increasing investment in digital channels including social media, email campaigns, SEO and property portals. While most property searches now begin online, physical boards remain a constant feature on UK streets as firms maintain a mix of digital and traditional marketing approaches.
Boards serve dual purposes as markers for individual properties and ongoing local advertising for agencies across all price brackets, making some firms reluctant to remove them promptly.
Kider acknowledged that the majority of estate agents operate within the rules but warned that rogue practices are “giving false hope, which can be even more damaging to the market” at a time when consumers are already finding conditions difficult to navigate.
The Property Ombudsman has not yet commented on whether it will review current regulations governing board usage.
