A man has been ordered to repaint his garden path “dull grey” after being reprimanded for colouring it a patriotic Royal blue. Paul Ryder, 37, decided to spruce up the outside of his bungalow in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, with a new paint job.
But he was ordered to either remove the blue paint or cover it with grey by his landlords. Paul has now been given six weeks to cover up the paint job or face being in breach of his tenancy agreement.
He fumed: “My landlord said to me ‘you either need to remove the paint off the slabs or paint them grey’, which is a bit contradictory. I don’t see the difference between having my slabs painted a bright colour or having them painted grey.
“My landlord said if I was ever to paint the front path, it would have to be removed like the back path if I moved out. They looked at the back garden and said if I ever move I would have to return it to its original state, which is fair enough. My landlord said it was fine to paint the front path, but again it must be removed if I moved out.”
Paul has now been told to remove the paint job despite no complaints from any of his neighbours. He added: “What’s wrong with it blue, it’s a petty and ridiculous issue.
“After looking in my tenancy agreement, I can’t see any clause I have breached. Our landlord always said to me that unless it’s a major adaptation like fencing or an outdoor tap, you would not need permission.
“It is understandable that I need permission for these kind of house adaptations. However, apart from big changes like this, I was told I could make the house my own.
“I just wanted to brighten my house up because the slabs were dull, and a jet wash is expensive. Loads of people have walked past and said they love it and it’s beautiful.”
In an email sent to him by Bromford Housing, they said: "I can confirm that we received no complaints from neighbours in regard to the paint.
"All we would say is that permission should have been asked for prior to doing this and we would ask that you do not paint any other external part of your home, including paths, walls, doors and windows."
Despite the row, Paul’s neighbours have shown their support for his paint job. One said: “When passing the bungalow, the beautiful painted slabs and blooming flowers bring a sense of happiness and lovely scenes when the world we live in lately is doom and gloom.”
