Landlord Home Group has defended a crackdown on everyday items at a serviced‑housing scheme in Wokingham after residents complained the rules were heavy‑handed.
People living on Acorn Drive say they were told to remove plant pots, chairs, small tables and doormats from outside their homes. One resident claimed a suitcase had been "confiscated" - Home Group denies this, saying items would only be moved if they obstructed access.
The company says the measures are about fire safety and that contracts ban anything in communal areas that could cause "danger, obstruction or nuisance".
Homeownership Operations Manager Ruth Eagling said a recent fire risk assessment raised concerns about items in shared spaces. "Our priority must always be to keep our customers safe," she said, adding that objects could help fire spread or hinder evacuation. She stressed residents can still use communal outdoor areas provided escape routes and emergency access remain clear.
Norreys councillor Nagi Nagella, who is standing for re‑election, sided with residents and criticised what he called a rigid interpretation of safety guidance. "For elderly residents in particular, repeatedly moving chairs in and out is simply not practical. For many - especially those living alone - small things like a chair, a plant, or simply sitting outside provide comfort, sunshine, and connection with neighbours." He also warned removing memorial benches would be "deeply insensitive and wrong".
Cllr Nagella called for a rethink: "I am calling for an open dialogue between residents, the management company, and myself to agree practical, safe solutions. Good policy must protect safety without stripping away dignity, community, and the simple freedoms that matter most."
Home Group says it understands residents' frustration but has criticised extreme comparisons as "wholly inappropriate" and says it is exploring whether memorial benches can remain, subject to safety inspections.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
Local Elections: A Power Shift Awaits Wokingham
