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!

[Bluntness100]

Sure, keep it up, he can just give you notice. No biggie as you’re happy to move. He doesn’t need a leg to stand on, he can just give you notice if he feels strongly about it.

Anyways, as for the poster. Unless you’re a 15 year old, seriously, take it down, tacky as fuck.

[ivykaty44]

Why on earth would you take a poster down due to someone else tell you to?

[SoulStew]

Ugh, I always feel second hand embarrassed for people who put up labour posters. Is it some sort of virtue signalling now? ‘Look at MEEEE and my nice Politics’

[FellOutOfBed2wice]

That’s ridiculous. If it’s not in your tenancy agreement he could go and whistle frankly- cheeky fucker! If it was a poster for Britain First I could maybe get on board with him not agreeing but it’s a mainstream political party for Gods sake!

I’m so sick of Landlords taking the “lord” bit of the name too seriously and thinking that they can dictate how their tenants live their lives.

[Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername]

Keep the poster up !!

[TabbyMack]

Fucking hell.

For those saying, “It’s fair enough” - you’d be perfectly happy, would you, to be told what you can display in your OWN HOME?

I cannot stand how ignorant many landlords and MMers are about what it means to rent a property.

The OP (and all renters) have a lease that allows them control of the property. It is THEIR HOUSE. Legally and morally...IT IS THEIR HOUSE.

All the time there is a contract in place, the landlord has very, very few rights. He retains the right to take back possession under a few, limited circumstances and and extremely limited right of entry (when there is a serious, serious emergency).

He has no right whatsoever to decide what the OP displays, how she lives, how she decorates or anything else. It’s her house while sheks the legal tenant.

“It’s fair enough”. How fucking ignorant.

OP...display what you like in your own damn window. That’s what a judge would say and that’s what the law allows.

[brasty]

soulstew THen you misunderstand the point of political posters totally.

[cherrycola2004]

personally i would take it down.

[BoomBoomsCousin]

I see why landlords might put something like that in a tenancy agreement, but yours hasn’t so I don’t see what he can do. I would probably take the poster down until I knew I wouldn’t want to renew again, because the idea of moving if he didn’t renew would aggravate the hell out of me. But if you don’t care then just leave things as they are. I don’t think he can force you (though check with a reliable source on that).

[TabbyMack]

Sure, keep it up, he can just give you notice. No biggie as you’re happy to move. He doesn’t need a leg to stand on, he can just give you notice if he feels strongly about it.
Anyways, as for the poster. Unless you’re a 15 year old, seriously, take it down, tacky as fuck

If you had something others consider “tacky as fuck” would you just take it down? Now, so how dare you expect others to.

And only the stupidest of landlords would give notice on otherwise good, clean paying tenants over a poster. And if it ended up in court, a judge would rip the landlord a new one. Think.

[llangennith]

If you feel that strongly about your right to display a political poster you run the risk of the landlord not renewing your tenancy. Is it worth it?

[Thedriftofstars]

Oh ffs. No it is not the 'neighbourhood headquarters' for the local Labour Party. I live in a Labour Party constituency so the MP has her own HQ at her office, surprisingly enough. Which isn't my house.
It's not illegal to keep a few leaflets in your house.
And as for the 'virtue signalling' - lol. It's really not, it's just supporting something I believe in. Like those Tory voters who drive round with 'ban the ban' stickers stuck in their back window.

[Theresnonamesleft]

I just think when I see posters in windows that the people cannot be arsed taking them down.
I also wonder if they still their Christmas and Halloween decorations up in June

[brasty]

Is it legal to run a business from a residential property?

The short answer to this is yes, but there are some stipulations. The property must remain residential first and foremost, which means no more than 40% of it should be used for commercial purposes. As many small businesses are operated from home office or one-room workshops, this shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s best to make this clear to your tenant when they approach you about their business, just in case.

And that’s another important point. If a tenant wants to run a business from a rented property, they have to have the landlord’s permission in writing. However, new regulations which came in last year mean a landlord can’t ‘unreasonably’ withhold permission if a tenant asks to run a business from their property.

www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2016/07/can-a-tenant-run-a-business-from-a-rental-property/

[counterpoint]

It is a grey area but you have mentioned enough things that could be put together to suggest that you are using the premises as an office for promoting the party.

Since you said you are known as the go-to person, it could be years after you leave that people are still turning up at the LL's house for Labour Party information.

[Thedriftofstars]

theres we didn't put any Halloween decorations up, and my tree doesn't go up until the middle of December, I'm sure you'll be both thrilled and relieved to know!

[PiffleandWiffle]

and thought it was something interesting to have in our window

This made me laugh!!

I give precisely no shits about your political leanings, but interesting !

Hahahahahahaha.....

[Bluntness100]

So much screeching hate for landlords on mumsnet, so predictable.

Anyways, as said, if it’s not in the agreement, you can keep it up, he can serve notice. Both sides have rights.

And for the poster who said it’s her house while she rents it, nope, no it’s not. It’s his house, what do you think you own the property whilst you rent it.,, seriously ? Neither legally or morally does she own it, it’s his all day long. If she wants it to be her house, she’ll have to buy the sucker. He can serve notice and even have her chucked out of his house, if he chooses.

,oh and some don’t even permit decoration. The bastards.Depends on the terms of the agreement. So calm down a little,eh?

[Thedriftofstars]

When I say we're the go to people - people and neighbours give their friends who are interested our mobile numbers, we then say oh yes join the fb group (not run by us!) or sign up on the website to receive emails (again not run by us) and if you decide to get involved in leafleting, we meet up at x day (not in our house, funnily enough, but at the areas we're canvassing) and we'll bring the leaflets along.
I am not Jeremy Corbyn running the entire party from my house, despite what some posters on here seem to think.

[Bluntness100]

If you had something others consider “tacky as fuck” would you just take it down? Now, so how dare you expect others to. And only the stupidest of landlords would give notice on otherwise good, clean paying tenants over a poster. And if it ended up in court, a judge would rip the landlord a new one. Think

Well firstly I own my own home so no I don’t need to do as someone tells me to. Secondly the landlord has every right to serve notice. No judge will tell him to do one. He doesn’t need a reason. That’s his legal right.

[reetgood]

Ffs. I can’t see it being enforceable for a landlord to evict a tenant over a political poster.

It would be a scary thing indeed if landlords were able to evict tenants over display of materials they disagree with.

It’s not in a contract and not in the landlords interest. Assume they could issue a section 21 which doesn’t need to have a reason etc, but it’s time consuming and unnecessary cost. If they do this, they are idiots and you’re best off not renting. Keep the poster up. Some strange ideas here!

[Walkingtowork]

Given that so many people may never be able to buy their own house these days, I think it's important that tenants' political activities aren't restricted (if legal obviously)

[CaptainHammer]

Tabbymack agree!

[counterpoint]

Most (all?) tenancy agreements will stipulate that you cannot run a business from the premises.

I think it's looking more likely this amount of activity, outside election time, is promoting a business which is a business anyway whether you are paid in money, favours or not paid at all. You have some interest in doing this.