Landlord told us to take political poster down

[Thedriftofstars]

We live in a nice rented house. Been here for three years, no problems whatsoever. We both work full time, have two DC. Just your average family and have never caused any problems! We take most minor maintenance on ourselves as well. Have yearly inspections from the letting agents, however last week after the inspection the LA told me the LL wanted to come inspect the property for himself.
So when he came round, he explained he wasn't happy with the Labour Party poster we have displayed in our front room window. DH and myself are both active in our local Labour Party, and do a lot of leafleting, etc, so are known by the neighbours as the go to people for involvement with the party.
The landlord said he doesn't want his house being used to promote politics, particularly when it's not something he supports himself.
AIBU to think he has no right to tell us what we can and cannot display when we pay the rent? There is nothing in our tenancy agreement about it, and he is fine with us having photos, paintings and so on hanging on the walls, as well as letting us redecorate to our tastes!

I think it’s a fair enough request from him.

Why? He doesn't live here, and we pay him rent so we can live and enjoy our lives here.

It's in my council tenancy agreement that I can't...

Often there is something in a tenancy agreement saying you are not allowed to put signs or posters in windows. Does your tenancy agreement have this?

Ya I think it's fair enough too to be honest, it effects the look from the outside and probably looks tacky, anything like that does so fair enough I would think, I wouldn't like it as a landlord or a neighbour

missing I don't live in a council house, it's private rented and there's nothing in our contract regarding it. It's not big or eye catching, it's simply an A4 poster in the bottom corner of the window.

Unless there is something in your tenancy agreement he can do one.

Nope, nothing in tenancy agreement. Have been through it with a fine tooth comb over last two days!!!

Previously it was in my AST agreement that we couldn't display posters of any affiliation. You're entitled to "quiet enjoyment" of the property, but proselytising isn't quiet enjoyment, IMO!

Im a landlord and I’d only tell you to remove anything offesive or engineered to generate hatred.
Check your tenancy agreement.

Ok, but I have said repeatedly there is nothing in our tenancy agreement to stipulate anything of this kind.

It's been in every single tenancy agreement I've ever had.

Unless you joined the labour party because you saw a poster, it's hardly a big deal anyway. Trust me, you're not convincing anyone just by having it up!

Thing is you are potentially inviting problems to the house by displaying a political leaning so publically. Let's swap Labour for a Britain First or even Conservative poster. That could be inflammatory and I suspect your Landlord would rather not risk it.

If it were me I'd stick the poster in my car instead and let him try and argue with you about that. Hell stick a big Labour rosette on your lapel too next inspection 😉

It isn't in our tenancy agreement, as I keep saying....

YABU - it is your home but it is still your LL's property and if he doesn't want you displaying political posters on the window that is his prerogative.

It's not as if there's a General Election taking place after all, which might then be understandable.

I don't see that he can force you: it's not even going to leave a mark if it's in the glass.
Then again, I'm a LL myself, and if I saw a Tory poster in the window of my property it'd make me feel less than pleased! (Not that I'd do anything about it)

I've told him if he would like to amend the tenancy agreement to include no political parties, fine. Until I have it in writing, it will be staying up.

Sorry, should have said no political parties posters.

If it's not in your tenancy agreement then I don't see how they have a leg to stand on. I would ask them to refer me to the relevant clause.

It's a mainstream political party, not the BNP, I don't see what their problem is.

With an attitude like that I'm surprised he's not a Labour Party supporter. He sounds a bit bonkers tbf. I am most definitely not a labour supporter, well not under their current leadership at any rate. Baring that in mind, my advice to you is to put up a poster in every single window.

I think you need to seriously consider which is more important having your tenancy renewed when up or having a poster up. Is it really worth pissing your landlord of over?