Trust spokeswoman Simone Russell said: "There are properties that have big flags hanging outside and while we encourage it during events such as the Jubilee; at other times it sullies the look of the area," she said. "Flags can be intimidating and can create a negative feeling." She revealed the policy would say "tenants must not hang or fix signs, banners or flags on the outside of the property, outside windows or on balconies, without our permission". It means residents can ask to hang a flag up for special occasions.
Welwyn Hatfield Council said the trust would adopt a "common-sense approach" and not enforce the rule on temporary items. A statement said the clause could be used if flags and other items had been put up on a long term basis or were causing a nuisance to others. "The trust will be able to refer to this tenancy condition in any action being taken to ensure the items are removed," it said. A preliminary notice of the proposal was sent to tenants in June and a consultation period closes on 12 July.
One local mother has already vowed to defy the new rule. Rachael Blythe, of Nursery Hill, Welwyn Garden City, was incensed by the new draft diktat. Ms Blythe, 29, said she would fly her Union Flag as long as the Queen flew hers. She stormed: “I will not let my landlord strip my child and myself of our rights and personal choices. I will fight this to the bitter end. This is a disgrace. Flying my country’s flag is my human right and I will continue to fly it for the foreseeable future. When the Queen takes her Union Jack down I will take mine down.”
6 comments:
I just assumed that was the norm in most places. I've lived in flats/houses in both NI and England and there are explicit rules in the covenant forbidding flying flags and putting bedsheets out the window etc. You're not even allowed to put washing out to dry in the sun as it sullies the neighbourhood.
Oh right, I had no idea.
Thanks for that.
I've only ever lived in rented accommodation once.
We had a landlord who would let himself in unannounced at all hours and on one occasion, when the water heater in the kitchen was broken, his attempt at mending it caused a gas explosion, which put him in hospital with shrapnel wounds.
After that I bought a house.
Mind you, this was almost thirty years ago when wage/house price ratios were nothing like they are today.
Also, hailing as I do from NI, I'm suspicious about flags in general. I've about 30 years of finding people with flags outside their houses to be polarised ner-do-wells. After I moved to England I didn't see half as many union flags as I did in north Belfast.
Even for the place I own it's against its covenant to do the above.
I understand your point fully.
You don't tend see that many houses with union flags in England, it's mainly the cross of St George - and they usually come with various far right wing associations attached.
Not always, of course. But generally.
The flags are installed by the English Amnesia Society. That way, sufferers know when they have strayed into Scotland, or, er...Wales.
"Local mother...Rachael Blythe..." is on facebook.
Fecking gorgeous.
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