Valerie

I have been a tenant in a block of four purpose-built flats run by Guinness Northern Counties Housing Assoc. I have just received a note (shoved through my door) from them demanding that we remove all articles from our communal areas as they constitute a fire risk. This would make sense if it referred to bulky items like bikes or prams - but this insists we immediately remove living plants and DOORMATS as well as pictures. In fact the few things that make our soulless entrance look ma little bit welcoming. Further If we do not remove them within a week they will be "collected and disposed of" this is apparently the edict of "an independent assessor" . How a plant or a small print on the wall can create a fire hazard is a mystery to me but how my rubber-backed doormat fixed down with double sided tape can constitute a tripping or fire risk is a real poser.The only one it might trip is me! Yes this seems trivial but to me this smacks of fascism. This is my home, do they have a right to enforce rules which serve no purpose yet at the same time create maximum insult and annoyance to a decent long term( 30 years) tenant.?