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'm completely with your landlord here op, especially as it's a Labour poster.

So if it's Tory/Ukip/LibDem etc it's okay? How narrowminded.

We have recently let a house and I would react in the same way as your landlord

You're not the OPs LL are you?

When you have your own home then you can have posters supporting any loony party you like!

Loony? No one's used that word since the 90s.

That could be inflammatory and I suspect your Landlord would rather not risk it

It isn't his risk to take, its OP's. It's not his concern,

There's a few different issues. The tenancy agreement wouldn't need to specify no political posters. If it states you need permission to decorate/put items on the wall, etc, then that clause could cover posters in the window. And even if he had waived that clause in some instances, it doesn't automatically apply it's waived in all cases.

Secondly, he could argue that you're putting his property at risk unnecessarily. There should be a clause in the tenancy that covers that whether it be connected to maintenance or being in keeping with the neighbourhood. There's definitely more risk of a window being broken when it displays a political poster than when it doesn't.

It is not inflammatory. It is a mainstream political party. I wouldn't care if I was OPs LL what party the poster was for, even though I have very strong views myself. None of my business

In england rentals are not expected to be returned 'exactly as it was when the tenant moved in', unlike other utopias. Here there is a concept of wear and tear.

There is also a concept of free speech, even if it was the BNP or worse.

I don't give a damn about tenant politics. All I want is the rent paid, the place not to be a crime head quarters, any problems reported and to get it back with minimal damage.

I think political posters displayed in homes are aggressive and pointless but you have the right to put it up if its not otherwise stated in your agreement.

In countries on the continent, it's your home when you sign the contract and pay your rent. You could put shelves on the ceiling and have a donkey in the living room if you wanted, as long as the house was returned exactly as you got it when you move out

That’s not true. I rented in mainland Europe for five years and the tenancy agreements, although much longer are very very strict. Landlords also often view in place of agents and for example we couldn’t even paint. You have to ask permission for absolutely everything and f they come round and you’ve done something they don’t like they can serve notice and get you out. Pets are considered the same as in the U.K., frowned upon and permission needed.

The only advantage over the uk is that the agreements are longer, ie up to a decade or more, but both parties can terminate with three months written notice at any time. So swings and roundabouts.

"the continent" isn't a place, and obviously every country has completely different rules and regulations for renting.

For example where I live, the LL can do nothing about what I put in my window, and I have 6 years at a time on my lease and there is little they can do to end it. They also can't raise my rent more than 4% every two years.

I don't see what the problem is. It is his house after all.

I couldn't give a flying fuck if my neighbours have up posters for Labour, the Tories, the Greens, One Direction, Benedict Cumberbatch or anyone else.

I suspect most people couldn't either, at least people with lives.

It is quite funny that you have your knickers in enough of a twist to insult the OP for her 'very odd and self-absorbed behaviour' and simultaneously say – well shout –that 'NOBODY CARES'.

@Bluntness100

Not true of my experience in France and Germany but it certainly differs from country to country. I just find the UK particularly rigid.

I don't see what the problem is. It is his house after all

It's not his home and he doesn't have the right to say.

Why do people come on and say "I don't see an issue" when they would see it if they had read the thread?

Because I have a life and I don't have time to read all nine pages of this thread

Hmm as somebody who's just going through the process of buying a house, I have to ask you- do you really want to go through the stress of moving again (if he gives you notice) just for the sake of a political poster? Wouldn't you rather just stay put and then move into your (more) permanent property?

So the only reason you have it displayed in the window is because you like it? Hang it on your wall instead... . You seem determined to make some sort of point, but it's the landlord's property which you presumably want to continue renting.
He'll have you down as a pain in the arse trouble maker now. Hope it was worth it.

brasty “THen you misunderstand the point of political posters totally.”, Then, what is the point of political posters exactly??

In terms of LL getting complaints, unless there was some kind of restrictive covenant or something (in which case I'd expect this to be reflected in the tenancy agreement) he isn't obliged to do anything about them.

So it wouldn't be particularly bright of him to respond to a complaint from someone he has no contractual relationship with or obligations to, by asking someone he does have a contractual relationship with to do something they're not contractually obliged to do.

It's not his home and he doesn't have the right to say

I think this is agreed. It’s his house, her home. He has no right as the tenancy agreement doesn’t speak to it. He can however refuse to renew, after which point it will no longer be her home, but it will remain his house.

I do have it in the contract signed by my tenants.

I also have the 'cunt' clause where I can afford to have the property empty and anyone who acts like I can't will be served their notice.

To influence people

No way should you take it down. Political expression is fundamental to democracy and protected under law (unless inciting hatred etc).

As PPs, said it is really dangerous to allow LLs to be able to police their tenant's politics.

A poster like this shouldn't offend any reasonable person, even if you hold other political views. It is ridiculous to say that it may look untidy or any such nonsense.

To influence people...oh my days! This is hilarious. I doubt a single vote has ever been cast on the strength of a poster in a window.

It sounds like your Landlord is on a bit of a power trip. Those posters don't cause offence, and are so commonplace - I see them all over the windows near me and for all different political parties.

Why shouldn't you be able to display a harmless poster displaying your beliefs.

It's akin to him saying you cannot have a wreath on your door or Christmas tree in your window because he doesn't celebrate it.

I think you're right to challenge him on it, as he needs to realise when you rent out a house it isn't completely under your control anymore.

Best of luck with the critter, hopefully he'll get back in his box.

Yes, that was my thought - any more than a football scarf makes people change team!

Bloody hell a “cunt clause”. I’ve heard it all. No wonder decent ll and decent tenants get such a hard time.