[blueblade]

Ken Mould aged 50 lives on a residential estate in Rugely, Staffordshire. Trouble is his house is completely hidden behind a wall of thick ivy.

Mr Mould has ignored council orders to remove the ivy from the front of the property, and has now been fined £1000 plus £300 costs, which he has 14 days to pay.

Is the council right, or are they being over zealous towards the owner of a private house ? Your thoughts.

link

[adopter]

Up-market?

[geniusgirl]

Originally Posted by adopter

Up-market?

I thought that

[stud u like]

The house looks a dump. If that is the outside, I dread to think what the inside is like.

I would also worry about his mental health.

The guy has issues.

[macsmurray]

He's taken it kinda far. It looks like house shaped topiary!!

[geniusgirl]

If it was a council house, fair enough. But it's up to him if it's covered in ivy or painted bright pink.

[Casual]

I was ready to defend Mr Mould, but then I saw the photo. I can understand the neighbours being pissed off, it does look awful.

[adopter]

Originally Posted by geniusgirl

I thought that

How odd - the OP has decided the house is no longer up-market.

I wonder what made him change his mind.

[DianaFire]

That place must be flipping overrun by spiders.

[stud u like]

Originally Posted by geniusgirl

If it was a council house, fair enough. But it's up to him if it's covered in ivy or painted bright pink.

No it isn't. I would be making sure he cleaned all that ivy off, It damages the brick work and pulls down housing prices.

[Caldari]

Originally Posted by geniusgirl

If it was a council house, fair enough. But it's up to him if it's covered in ivy or painted bright pink.

Spot on. If some jobsworth from the council tells me to get rid of my ivy then they'd get told, in no uncertain terms, to go away and don't come back.

[SpamJavelin]

Originally Posted by stud u like

No it isn't. I would be making sure he cleaned all that ivy off, It damages the brick work and pulls down housing prices.

Spare us the internet warrior routine. No you wouldn't be making sure of any such thing.

[The Dove]

Originally Posted by stud u like

No it isn't. I would be making sure he cleaned all that ivy off, It damages the brick work and pulls down housing prices.

It's his house and if the ivy isn't damaging any other houses then it's nobody else's business.

[bugloss]

could have been a Mr Ivy getting told to remove all the mould

[varialectio]

Originally Posted by The Dove

It's his house and if the ivy isn't damaging any other houses then it's nobody else's business.

I'm guessing from the council depertment giving the quotes that they are doing this under planning regulations which do make it other people's business.

[stud u like]

Originally Posted by SpamJavelin

Spare us the internet warrior routine. No you wouldn't be making sure of any such thing.

I do actually. My last target was the house opposite with its tatty old sofas dumped in the front garden.

I get things done.

[SpamJavelin]

Originally Posted by stud u like

I do actually. My last target was the house opposite with its tatty old sofas dumped in the front garden.

I get things done.

What an hero.

[housegirl]

Dear me they own the house I would tell them to go forth and multiply the stuck up lot

Residents yesterday spoke of their “nightmare” neighbour.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “That thing brings down the house prices for all our street. It’s an eyesore.

why do they talk to them and then spout behind their back

“I don’t know how they can live in there. Whenever I see someone emerge from that mess I do a double-take.

it is not a mess they are plants you sad person

[Casual]

Originally Posted by The Dove

It's his house and if the ivy isn't damaging any other houses then it's nobody else's business.

How the neighbourhood looks is everyone's business. And if someone is suppressing the value of neighbouring properties it's definitely their business. I wouldn't want to live next door to an eyesore and I suspect most people in this thread wouldn't either, despite what they may post.

[miaow]

Its like the house is pretending to just be shrubbery I kind of like it

[geniusgirl]

Originally Posted by stud u like

No it isn't. I would be making sure he cleaned all that ivy off, It damages the brick work and pulls down housing prices.

1. he's detached, his house, his brick work
2. it really doesn't

[CLL Dodge]

Looks better than his neighbours. If you have a dull-looking house let stuff grow over it.

[tim59]

Originally Posted by geniusgirl

If it was a council house, fair enough. But it's up to him if it's covered in ivy or painted bright pink.

Because you own your own house do not mean you can do with it what you like

[Ber]

Originally Posted by The Dove

It's his house and if the ivy isn't damaging any other houses then it's nobody else's business.

It is if its a conservation area, listed building or if there are any restrictions or covenants in the deeds.

[stud u like]

Originally Posted by geniusgirl

1. he's detached, his house, his brick work
2. it really doesn't

Well i know when I go looking for a new house to buy, I inspect the neighbours.

I look in the bins to see what they eat and how much alcohol they drink.

I check on their reading material.

I sniff clothes for signs of drug use and smoking.

Gardens have to be neat and tidy. No barking animals. Peace and quiet.

Houses have to look like houses.