The Council’s reinforcement team have recently been out in the borough identifying estate agents whose boards were not compliant to regulations.

Now enforcement officers from both planning and street services have seized a number of estate agent’s board in a joint project to clampdown on clutter in Walthamstow. Estate agents are required by law to remove most boards within 14 days of a property being sold or let (if completion has taken place). 12 boards which broke the rules were removed in Chingford Road and Brettenham Road after the deadline for taking them down had expired.

The companies in question have also been issued a £100 fixed penalty notice for each offending board.  Should the companies elect to go to court the maximum penalty on conviction rises to £1,000.

Cllr Bob Belam said that Walthamstow residents had complained that their streets were being swamped by out of date signs.

He added:

“If estate agents don’t take their responsibilities seriously and remove their boards promptly, we will make sure the enforcement team do.”