Graffiti has long been a subject of debate. Some view it as artistic expression, and that is true when it is street art that has been placed on a building with permission. However, in most cases it is just vandalism that causes a headache for business owners and community members alike. Unwanted graffiti can have significant consequences and understanding the true cost of neglecting removal is essential for making informed decisions about how to address it.
Encouraging Further Vandalism
When you don’t remove graffiti promptly, it sends the message to vandals that you’re an easy target. That notion is likely to make you a target for repeat defacement – and can also open you up to other forms of vandalism. By acting quickly and employing other graffiti prevention techniques, you make it clear that type of behaviour won’t be tolerated on your property.
Increased Removal & Maintenance Costs
Not only does not addressing removal and repair promptly cause a cycle of vandalism to occur, it also can also increase your maintenance costs. The longer that graffiti is left in place and exposed to the elements, the more it has the potential to be difficult to remove. Additionally, when vandals tag the same area more than once, it results in layers of paint which adds to the difficulty and time needed for job completion. In both of these instances, the cost of removal will increase.
As mentioned above, lingering tags also invites further vandalism to the area which can result in costly repairs and clean up that inflate your maintenance costs.
Legal and Compliance Issues
In most municipalities, property owners are required to remove graffiti within a certain timeframe. Failure to do so can result in visits from your local by-law officers that may result in fines or other penalties. Even in areas where there is no legal requirement, the presence of graffiti can lead to complaints from neighbours or local business owners, potentially resulting in disputes and other undesired dealings.
Negative Community Impact
Areas where graffiti and other forms of vandalism are rampant have the reputation of being unsafe which can deter visitors and negatively impact economic development. When people begin avoiding an area and businesses start leaving for more desirable locations, it can have a negative ripple effect on the community at large.
Vacant storefronts and reduced foot traffic not only lead to the closure of more businesses, it also invites further vandalism and crime. Once thriving and vibrant communities become a memory of what once was. The good news here is that it is preventable and reversible. When vandalism is addressed swiftly, everyone in the community wins.
Decreased Property Value
Reduction of property value and the perceived value of the business is easily one of the most tangible impacts of graffiti. As alluded to in the previous point, businesses that are riddled with vandalism give off the essence of being rundown, unclean and unsafe, which devalues your business and the building that it resides in.
For landlords and property owners, this directly impacts your bottom lines as tenants are more likely to not renew their lease and vacant buildings become harder to fill which results in lower rental income, or even a reduced selling price should you desire to sell.