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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be apoplectic with rage over this?

163 replies

BenedictsCumberbitch · 03/08/2012 13:44

Myself and Mr BC own a house that we used to live in that we now rent out. I'd say we are decent landlords, attending to any problems quickly as possible and availing ourselves to him 24 hours a day 7 days a week in case of emergency, despite also paying a letting agent do the leg work in such matters. Anyway there was a problem with the boiler which the tenant decided not to inform us about and get fixed himself (which is another thread altogether) and then asked to be reimbursed , for the sake of harmony we agreed to refund him the money based on the understanding this would not happen again. I went to the house today to collect the receipt and hand over the cash only to see that on the front door of MY PROPERTY he had stuck several National Front stickers with slogans such as 'Pensioners before Immigrants' and 'Proud to be British and White'. He wasn't in so I left the property after taking a photo on my phone and ringing the letting agent.

AIBU to consider giving him his notice over this, I'm raging that he thinks this is an acceptable way to behave and that he would deface our property in this way?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 03/08/2012 14:40

But what if I am an African squirrel or from the east and the big "proud to be white" was insulting and hurtful to me?

Then you'll have to buy yourself a great big bag of nuts and comfort eat Grin

But it's still not illegal

Original poster
BenedictsCumberbitch · 03/08/2012 14:43

The tenancy was initially for 6 months and is now on a rolling contract so we could legally give him two months notice with no recourse. He's never had an official inspection in the time he has been in the property as myself and DH have informally been in the property to collect post and make minor repairs etc and have not found fault other than with the pets which as I say we agreed to let slide (between myself and DH, not officially communicated that to the tenant).

OP posts:
cheesenpickle · 03/08/2012 14:44

Really this neednt be complicated if they have been with you since 2009 and havent renewed the fixed term bit of the contract, give them notice- dont mention boliers, pets or his offensive stickers. Give another reasonable reason, stay on good terms and unless you are v unlucky he will go quietly.

KickTheGuru · 03/08/2012 14:45

Mmmmmmm nuts

I have two ready made ones but they're at work now...

Sastra · 03/08/2012 14:46

No, it's not illegal but I know of instances where children and young people have been really affected by seeing lots of hateful NF front posters in the areas that they live in (to be fair, worse than what your tenant has on the door). Sad he is doing things that contravene the terms of his tenancy, and the OP has been lenient so far. She has no reason to continue with that leniency.

It's a really tricky one though OP and I feel for you.

Sastra · 03/08/2012 14:47

So its basically up to you. If you want to, you can have him out in two months. You dont need to give a reason.

It depends how much it offends you.

Original poster
BenedictsCumberbitch · 03/08/2012 14:48

As to the question on the area, it's a fairly quiet residential terraced street, mostly privately owned and in what would probably be classed as a developing area with some areas of social deprivation. However such views are probably not completely isolated as there are high levels of unemployment (in the region as a whole) and a definite benefits culture in some areas. Whilst I appreciate racism is not restricted to such areas I'd hazard a guess at it being more prevalent and the area is almost exclusively White apart from the proprietors of local shops and takeaways.

OP posts:
Original poster
BenedictsCumberbitch · 03/08/2012 14:49

Do I get some sort of award for the use of the word area most times in a single post?

OP posts:
KickTheGuru · 03/08/2012 14:50

Twas only 4 times.

You can try a bit harder next time :)

As you say, rolling contract so you are legally allowed to boot them out if you want.

emmieging · 03/08/2012 14:51

Serve him notice

NarkedRaspberry · 03/08/2012 14:52

we could legally give him two months notice with no recourse

Do it.

Sallyingforth · 03/08/2012 14:52

OP it's your property.
You have the right and responsibility to maintain the outside of it.

In your place I would be inclined to clean the front door, which would make it necessary to remove the posters. And clean it again if they reappear.

Regarding the boiler - he shouldn't be attempting repairs unless he's suitably qualified. By doing so he has invalidated the inspection certificate that is required for rental premises.

somedayma · 03/08/2012 14:53

Someone else made a good point earlier about those stickers being provocative. Your house could be damaged by someone taking offense and chucking a brick through the window or something- surely you can argue that as a good reason to have him remove them? Also he's an arse yeh. But it's legal to be an arse

ClaraDeLaNoche · 03/08/2012 14:57

there is no form of protection against discrimination in the UK on the grounds of political belief. It isn't a protected characteristic in terms of the Equality Act. Philosophical belief is protected but case law has shown that similar NF views are not classed as "philosophical".

So don't worry about discrimination, just focus on the contract.

WorraLiberty · 03/08/2012 14:57

Sallying, he 'got it fixed himself'...I don't think he fixed it himself.

KickTheGuru · 03/08/2012 15:02

Clara :)

Can you further explain that to me? Discrimination is fine just so long as you align it to a political party???

KickTheGuru · 03/08/2012 15:02

Or the exact opposite?

Original poster
BenedictsCumberbitch · 03/08/2012 15:03

Yeah he paid someone else to do it. I believe it's actually the contractor that the letting agent would contact to do such repairs, we have used him before and it turned out the tenant knew him on a personal level. I think (giving him the benefit of the doubt) he just decided to cut out the middle man and get it fixed but there was really no need to do so.

OP posts:
KickTheGuru · 03/08/2012 15:04

Sorry - I've read your post twice and I still can't work out if you're saying that she shouldn't bother to enforce the discrimination because it's legal but your first paragraph seems to say that you can't discriminate under political agendas?

KickTheGuru · 03/08/2012 15:05

hides out with the squirrels

mayorquimby · 03/08/2012 15:10

No she's saying that political beliefs are not protected from the discrimination legislation.
So discriminating against someone due to race, the victim could have legal protection
Discriminating against someone due to political beliefs, the victim would have no legal recourse

mayorquimby · 03/08/2012 15:11

*protected by the ...

KickTheGuru · 03/08/2012 15:11

So they can resurrect the Klu-Klux Klan under a political party and that would be ok??? Shock

mayorquimby · 03/08/2012 15:14

You've absolutely lost me with your logic now

Sastra · 03/08/2012 15:17

I think you're thinking about it the wrong way round, kick.

So, if I wouldn't let you join my gang because you were a Tory, legally, they couldn't stop me. If I said you couldn't join my gang because you were black, I'd be I trouble.

This is why the BNP had to let a Sikh chappie in when he professed to be politically aligned with them.