'For sale' board proves costly for estate agent

A ‘For sale’ board erected in a central conservation area has landed a Brighton agent with fines and costs of nearly £1,000.

A representative from Sawyer & Co Sales and Lettings Ltd appeared at Brighton Magistrates court last week (8th August) and admitted erecting the board outside a property in Howard Place.

Magistrates heard that Brighton & Hove City Council had warned the company about erecting boards in central residential conservation areas, following a similar incident in Buckingham Place.

The company was fined £325 and ordered to pay £610 court costs and £32.50 victim surcharge.

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, chair of planning, said: “This prosecution shows that our planning officers are committed to enforcing the ban on estate agent boards within the central conservation areas.

“I would like to thank the majority of estate agents who are complying with the regulations.  This prosecution should give them confidence that court action will continue to be taken against those estate agents that fail to comply with the regulations.”