A business news website is reporting that an agency has been ordered to pay £1,550 for displaying a board illegally.

Charles Lear and Co, Cheltenham’s longest-established independent agency, pleaded guilty to the offence which was in contravention of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements, England) Regulations 2007 between March 10 and 31 last year.

Punchline reports that the firm was fined £500 with £1,000 costs and a £50 surcharge.

The issue of boards has been a thorny one for the industry for some time, especially with To Let signs proliferating on some developments. 

Letting and estate agents are required, under Planning and Highways legislation to place boards only within the boundary of the property and also to remove them within 14 days of a property being sold or let.

Just over two years ago a lettings agency voluntarily decided to scrap To Let boards in densely populated areas, because they were unsightly and because many prospective tenants found properties online.

The homes4u agency in Manchester said it recognised that many people see To Let boards as an eyesore, especially when they appear in bulk in some areas popular with students, for example. 

What do you think? Are boards required in a digital age?