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!

Tread carefully here. A tenancy can be easily and quickly terminated. So unless you can argue some form of discrimination (which potentially you can, I'm not a specialist in that area of law tho so seek advice) then you need to think carefully as you can be booted out really quickly.

For what it's worth I agree with you and think the LL is being silly. If I was renting out properties I wouldn't care about a little political poster especially representing one of the major parties ie nothing inflammatory.

In what way is hanging an a4 poster in your window inflammatory?

“ A tenancy can be easily and quickly terminated”

It depends on the tenancy. If tenants choose to, they can string out an eviction for quite a while. And whether a landlord is batshit enough to terminate good tenants on a poster expressing a political view.

If it were any other kind of poster, I doubt people would be so righteous about the landlords right to terminate. Which is also batshit. Freedom of right to peaceful political expression is one of the things that distinguishes a non oppressive democracy.

Eg

AST tenancies take two months plus court order to evict on a section 21

I really doubt that a section 8 would be granted on grounds of antisocial behaviour for a poster in the window

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/eviction_of_assured_shorthold_tenants

I can’t believe that yr LL feels that he/ she has the right to ask you to take down such a thing. How ridiculous. It’s clearly to do with their own political allegiance IMO. I’d say that if it’s not in your tenancy agreement, it’s harassment. If you were displaying a patriotic union flag, or even a football one, would said LL ask you to remove that? Also cannot believe others’ responses. Having said that if you refuse, you may end up with the rent going up!!!!

This thread has been going round in circles for about 24 hours now

As far as 'getting you out quickly' goes, if you're a tenant you'll find the landlord can make your life very uncomfortable. If a landlord, the other way around! As always, the best advice is to avoid conflict. Swallow pride where necessary.

Put in it writing.

"As there is no stipulation of any kind in our tenancy agreement about displaying posters soliciting support for political parties,
charities, clubs, societies, churches or sporting bodies then you cannot legally prevent us from doing so. Be advised that, should you offer us a new tenancy agreement in which such a stipulation is introduced, we shall refuse to sign it and take legal advice on your entitlement to vary a tenancy agreement in such an area. Meanwhile we shall continue to display posters advertising our political affiliation provided that these do not transgress public decency."

He's trying it on - he said he didn't want you to display Labour Party posters because "he doesn't agree with them", not on any legal [or even honest] principle.

If you get a whiff of eviction involve your local MP and Citizens' Advice immediately, the cheeky sod.

Reetgood - and if the tenant puts the landlord to the time and cost of a court application, what's he going to say when a new landlord asks for a reference? Good way to suggest shooting a massive hole in your own foot!

I’ll just ask politely once. Then as a landlord myself I’ll give you notice ASAP.

My house may be vandalised thanks to the sign. Then you’ll want me to pay for the damage.
When you buy your own house do what you want. Paying rent doesn’t entitle you to feel like you own the place.

It’s his house. Would you like it if it was your house?

Do people really think vandalising properties because they have a political poster in their window is common? it must be mayhem during an election when on practically every street there’s at least one house showing their support for one party or another.

Colby

It may be his house but he rents the house out and receives payment for that meaning that he doesn’t get a say in everything about his house any longer

Do people really think vandalising properties because they have a political poster in their window is common?

I've had posters in my front window at every general and local election since 1979. Not one single act of vandalism, ever.

My house may be vandalised thanks to the sign. Then you’ll want me to pay for the damage.

Good luck with that. Charges the victims for damages caused by their attackers? And people wonder why landlords have bad reputations. Your attitude is quite sickening.

Do people really think it’s ok to discriminate due to political views? We do live in a free country where we can display posters ( nothing inciting hatred)

@rebeccaslicker as a tenant, I was never asked for a reference. Credit checks and guarantors, but not a reference. And there are probably other, less batshit landlords that a tenant could request a reference from.

Anyway it’s beside the point I was making, which is that evicting a tenant is not ‘quick and easy’, even if the tenant does not dispute and you follow a section 21.

OP have you checked your tenancy agreement?
There might be something about it in your tenancy agreement, in case you didn't know.

Oh FFS.

anothernetter Tue 21-Nov-17 16:45:01
Because I have a life and I don't have time to read all nine pages of this thread wink
My god, the self-importance.

I'm shocked at how cowed your society is, that putting up a political poster can be seen so negatively. The poster upthread with the 'no-one else is doing it' bullshit; so what? OMG, are you not in lockstep with everyone else? The end is nigh!
I'm horrified at how so many posters think owning a property allows an owner to curtainl freedom of speech/opinion.

Why oh why are you getting so irate over such a pathetic issue, have you nothing better to worry about. If I was the landlord, and I saw what an attitude you have, I wouldn't want you for a tenant, that you could ague over such a silly poster, especially as its labour..... Get a Life

I'm shocked at how cowed your society is

It's embarrassing.

I’m really uncomfortable about this. Especially as you said something of the lines that he wouldn’t mind if it was Tory. It’s discrimination no?

Sorry for doing a ‘no?’ at the end. It just slipped out

Rebeccaslicker, where does it say OP is at the end of the tenancy? My post was in response to one which suggested she could be out on her ear in January.

OP have you checked your tenancy agreement? There might be something about it in your tenancy agreement, in case you didn't know.

LoveDeathPrizes, have you RTFT?