A COUPLE have got a serious case of the blues after their landlord told them their bright royal blue garden path had to go.
Paul Ryder and his partner decided to paint their front path after being inspired by decorative work they had done in their back garden.
4
4
4
But three weeks after the paint hit the paving slabs – they received a “controlling” call from their landlord.
Paul, from Pendeford, West Mids., told the Express And Star: “We were told to remove the colour or paint it grey to follow suit with everyone else in the area.”
Bromford Housing gave the pair between four and six weeks to scrub the blue off – or face being smacked with a “minor tenancy breach”.
But Paul was having none of it.
He lashed back at the council demanding to know what exactly the pair had done wrong.
He argued there was nothing in the tenancy agreement to say they couldn’t give their garden path a lick of paint.
And the couple asked Bromford Housing to outline demands in writing.
Most read in Motors
In their response, Bromford Housing asked whether there was anything they could do to assist in buying grey paint for the pair who allegedly claimed they “couldn’t afford” it.
The landlord’s revealed that while there had been no complaints about the path, they would have preferred Paul and his partner “ask permission” to douse the slabs in blue paint.
Despite the demands, Paul said neighbours had in fact said they “love it” as it is unlike any other in the area.
The Sun Online has approached Bromford Housing for comment.
What are your rights?
Not knowing your gardening rights could land you in a nasty row with your neighbours – or even in trouble with the police.
From planting to pruning, make sure you’re not breaking the law on your own land.
You cannot plant or put up whatever you’d like in your garden, even though it’s your own property.
If you plant a tree or erect a shed that blocks light to a neighbour’s window, they have the right to object.
Under the Rights of Light Act, if a window has received natural light for 20 years or more, your neighbour can block your plans.
This applies to tall hedges or trees, as well as man-made fences, sheds or summer houses – so make sure nothing you build be obstructing any natural light.
Trimming those overhanging branches, however, falls under another tricky category.
You can cut off any branches that intrude into your property – but you cannot trespass in order to do so.
This means you cannot enter your neighbour’s garden or cross into their land to prop up your ladder or climb a tree.
If you do decide to prune the offensive plant from your land, you don’t need to notify your neighbour or ask them permission.
4
