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AIBU?

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Original poster

Landlord told us to take political poster down

465 replies

Thedriftofstars · 21/11/2017 13:56

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. Confused
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!

OP posts:
tinymeteor · 21/11/2017 15:18

As it's not in the TA, no he can't object. He is intruding on your quiet enjoyment of the property you are renting. YANBU.

brasty · 21/11/2017 15:19

Interesting to know that clauses about political posters are not enforceable. I had this as a clause when I was a student.

reetgood · 21/11/2017 15:20

@lunaspectrespecs I truly don’t care what my neighbours have on their windows! Kids down the road have some toys stuck in the window, someone over the road flies a British flag... I truly could not. Care. Less. I think it’s a bit weird and odd to get your knickers in a twist over posters in someone’s window. Horses for courses, I suppose...

Porpoises · 21/11/2017 15:22

I can't believe so many people think that you should automatically take it down, regardless of the tenancy agreement.

Political posters are a big part of showing campaigning, especially round election time. Should only homeowners be allowed to do this? The Tories would do well out of that rule.

Chrys2017 · 21/11/2017 15:23

@GaryBarlowsTaxReturn

This is taken from a standard shorthold tenancy lease. Fair enough if OP says this isn't in her lease, but your comment that even if it was it would be 'unenforceable' is very bad advice.

"4.8 External Appearance
4.8.1 Not to allow a flag placard sign or poster of any description to be displayed so as to be visible outside the Property."

Celticlassie · 21/11/2017 15:24

What a twat. He may own the property, but while you’re in it, it’s your home. If my tenants had political posters that I didn’t agree with (assuming not racism, etc) I’d just have to suck it up.

shutitandtidyupgitface · 21/11/2017 15:24

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 isn't though, in the slightest.

OP, you can put what you like in your front window. You've rented that window, you pay for it, you can put what you like in it within the law.

LL can mind his own business.

rcit · 21/11/2017 15:25

I don’t like political posters. I can understand why a LL wouldn’t want them displayed, even if they did support that party. They could incite problems. Can you put a poster in your car instead?

brasty · 21/11/2017 15:25

As long as something is legal, it should be of no concern to anyone else. Just as the tacky gnomes on a neighbours garden, are no one elses business

brasty · 21/11/2017 15:25

Why would an ordinary poster incite problems?

granny24 · 21/11/2017 15:27

We are landlords. Good landlords, who keep the properties in excellent condition, and have not increased the rents for over two years because our tenants have not had salary increases in that period. I would be very sad to see a Conservative poster up as it would mean tenants were supporting a party that has repeatedly voted against tenants’ rights. But we would just suck it up because the houses are their homes. He should mind his own business. Last time I looked we were still a sort of democracy.

thecatneuterer · 21/11/2017 15:34

chrys It would almost certainly be unenforceable though. Notice would have to be served under Section 8, but it wouldn't be one of the mandatory grounds, it would be under the discretionary grounds.

It is very difficult to get an eviction using a discretionary ground as, even if something is written in the tenancy agreement, the court has to agree that it is reasonable and that it is a reasonable reason for eviction. It is very unlikely that they would agree that eviction is a fair response to this. So the LL would probably have to go through a very long court process and would need to pay costs with very little hope of success.

LunasSpectreSpecs · 21/11/2017 15:34

Political posters are a big part of showing campaigning, especially round election time

Agreed. But it's not election time. 99% of political posters come down within a week of the vote. Having one up in the window - not on a wall - out of a campaigning period is just weird.

Chrys2017 · 21/11/2017 15:36

thecatneuterer Thanks for the clarification.

Chrys2017 · 21/11/2017 15:37

Legalities aside, they're just damned ugly. We get bombarded with enough advertising—do we really want this to become common practice too?

shutitandtidyupgitface · 21/11/2017 15:37

Having one up in the window - not on a wall - out of a campaigning period is just weird

not when you are an active party member.

Dapplegrey · 21/11/2017 15:37

I own my own home - or I suppose the bank does, as I have a mortgage. It's in my tenancy agreement (leaseholder because it's a flat in a big block) that none of us display political posters. It's a stupid rule, whether it's for tenants or owners.

ArcheryAnnie - if you own your flat what can be done to stop you displaying political posters?

ArcheryAnnie · 21/11/2017 15:41

Dapplegrey in the short term I'd be nagged to death by the management company. In the longer term they could try to take me to court, I suppose, but they wouldn't. The reality is that I do display a political poster because I am on a very high floor and nobody from the management company can see it! Sadly nobody else can, either.

OuaisMaisBon · 21/11/2017 15:46

This is in the current contract I have with tenants of the house I am renting out:
"4.50 Not to place or fix any aerial, satellite dish, or notice or advertisement or board onto the Premises (either externally or internally) without first obtaining the prior consent of the Landlord. Such consent will not be unreasonably withheld. (In order to avoid misunderstandings or disputes later, it is strongly recommended that the Tenant obtain confirmation in writing of any such consent granted.) Where granted, the Tenant will meet all costs of installation and subsequent removal and the reasonable costs of making good of any resultant damage or redecoration if so required by the Landlord. The Landlord reserves the right to withdraw, for reasonable grounds and upon reasonable notice, any such consent previously given."
As others have said, as long as the poster does no damage and is not inflammatory or inciting hate crimes or violence, I see no problem. Though I might be unhappy with a photo of Trump. Or Farage. Fortunately, my current tenants are from another European Union country and are unlikely to put up posters of either.

brasty · 21/11/2017 15:54

A poster like that would be illegal anyway

Bluntness100 · 21/11/2017 15:54

But he could do that because he didn't like that she had black friends, or didn't like her car. That doesn't give him the right to tell her to change her car or he will evict her (or her friends)

Sure. No one said that, and no disagreement from me.

He can ask her to take it down, she says no, he can either accept it or simoly not renew. That is the point, telling her he can’t do it end of is not the whole story. . He can say “fine then” then quietly email the agent and say “ I won’t renew,serve notice at the appropriate time, and market it” if his politics are as strong as hers. She’s happy to move over it. He may be happy to find new tenants over it.

For some people not having their tenancy renewed and having to move would be onerous and painful. The op doesn’t have an issue with it. So she can keep her poster up without fear of Him not renewing and her subsequently having to find someplace else to live.

IsaSchmisa · 21/11/2017 15:54

There's nothing in your tenancy agreement to prevent you, and you're not arsed if he ends the tenancy over it, so go for it. If he does end the tenancy because of it, remember you have no obligation to allow any viewings etc before leaving.

I'd also make very sure you can document that you've not caused any damage in case he tries silly buggers with the deposit.

brasty · 21/11/2017 15:55

Chrys When it is someone else's home, it is up to them.

swingofthings · 21/11/2017 15:58

As a LL with very high expectations, it wouldn't cross my mind to ask my tenants to take down political boards from the house. It's their home, they can do what they want as long as it's legal. Why would I care, it's not like I'm affiliated to my tenants, I rent my house as a business.

I think your LL is unreasonable.

brasty · 21/11/2017 15:59

But sadly too many LL look at it as their house and not a business