Following the prosecution of Bentley and Bond estate agency for flyboarding offences earlier this month by Hackney Council, Courtneys estate agency was fined for similar offences this week.

Courtneys Estate Agency, based at 544 Kingsland Road. London E8 was fined £2,750, plus £415.00 costs at Thames Magistrates Court on 28 April 2008. The prosecution related to six "Let by" and four “Sold” boards being erecting on properties in Hackney, when there were no instructions from the owners to do so. The Director of the company Mr Tim Gorgulu pleaded guilty to all offences.

Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Corporate Director for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration at Hackney Council said: "Hackney Trading Standards has now prosecuted five estate agents operating within the Borough over the past six months for hoax boarding offences and each were given substantial fines at Thames Magistrates Court. It shows what a serious offence it is. The practice of plastering our streets with advertising boards for months on end is not tolerated.”

Hackney Trading Standards took its first fly boarding case to court last November. Sovereign Estates Ltd Estate Agency, based at 223 Victoria Park Road, London E9 7HD was fined £1,600, plus £1,500 costs at Thames Magistrates Court on 30th November 2007. They had put a Sold and To Let sign on a property on Milborne Street, London E9, without being asked to do so by the owner.

In February of this year, two East London estate agents pleaded guilty to fly boarding offences and were given substantial fines at Thames Magistrates Court. Keatons Estate Agents was fined £19,200 and ordered to pay costs of £1,573 for putting five Sold and four To Let signs on properties in seven different streets in Hackney, when there were no instructions from the owners to do so.

Robert Alan Homes, which has an office on Victoria Park Road, London E8 was also fined £7,500 for five fly boarding offences and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.

Bentley and Bond, based at 97 Lauriston Road, Hackney E9 was fined £3,015, plus £1000 costs at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday 18 April 2008. Offences related to six "Let by", one "Aquired", three "For Sale" and two "Sold" signs being erecting, on properties in Hackney without permission from the owner. The company Bentley & Bond pleaded guilty to all offences.

Fly-boarding offences are covered by section 13 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. Each offence carries a maximum fine of £5000.

For further information contact Hackney Trading Standards on 020 8356 4929.