Each Council is responsible for removing the fly posters and stickers from their Council owned properties, parks and the highway, which includes lamp post, traffic lights, rubbish bins and benches. But they are not responsible for clearing private properties, commercial properties, utility boxes and other street furniture that is not owned by them.

The Government is actively encouraging Councils and utility companies to set up a working relationship that keeps all street furniture clear of graffiti, fly posters and stickers. There have been a number of Home Office trials to help facilitate this.

Important questions to help you select a competent contractor

Does the contractor have the knowledge, equipment and experience to do the work? It is very important that the staff attending your site know the best technique for cleaning the fly posters from the underlying surface and that they have the right equipment to do the job. The best technique might not always be the quickest, but the underlying surface should appear clean and not be damaged by the processes used.

Is the contractor approved by any Local Authorities? If so, it is well worth finding out which ones so that you can then check. Local Authority approval will mean that the contractor has a Health and Safety Policy that they have to comply with and current liability insurance in the unlikely event of something going wrong. These are particularly important when working at heights.

What chemicals will the contractor use? There are a number of very good environmentally friendly and biodegradable chemicals for removing fly posters. Each chemical will work best given the right circumstances, which means that it is often necessary to use a number of applications of different chemicals to complete the work properly. Once the chemicals have done their job the underlying surface is wiped clean with damp paper towels or washed down using hot water at a low pressure.

Will the contractor advise on removal and prevention? Once the fly posters have been removed, it is important to evaluate if anything can be done to avoid repeat occurrences. For example, it is difficult to stick fly posters to a wall that has plants growing up or along it. There are several coatings that can be applied to protect the underlying surface, which makes fly poster removal easier.

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What to avoid

High pressure and abrasive cleaning processes as these will damage the underlying surface.

Inexperienced contractors who are 'just getting into fly poster removal', say 'we'll give it a go' or do not regularly clear fly posters.

Contractors that claim to have 'a revolutionary new system' which will remove everything from all underlying surfaces from one supplier. The reality is that there are many types of surfaces that need clearing of any number of paints, marker pens and glues (for attaching fly posters). One system does not work for everything; it is often a combination of different chemicals and removal techniques that get the job done. It is usually costs more to use contractors that are linked to one supplier as they have to pay expensive licensing or franchise fees.

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What the contractor will need to know

The contractor will need to know the amount or area of fly posters, the underlying surface and the location. For ground level work a contractor should be able to give you a quote for removal over the phone.

The contractor will need to know that the underlying surface is sound and in good condition. If the wall is in need of re-pointed, then washing down the wall may cause some of the pointing to come out of the wall. Often customers will be asked to sign an indemnity form.

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