A quiet mutiny has started at Acorn Drive in Wokingham after Home Group ordered a zero-tolerance ban on personal items in communal areas following a fire risk assessment. The 130-home development is mainly retirees.
The sweep bans plant pots, doormats, chairs and even benches - including a memorial bench and a gazebo bench - say residents. Many call the rules a "solitary confinement" order.
Residents have 28 days to clear belongings or face extra service charges, and people warn it will make socialising harder.
"You actually made me weep upon receipt of your letter. Do you realise that you have now confined us all to not coming outside?"
"Getting old is no fun at all, and these very strict rules seem destined to remove any joy we may get from socialising."
"It was highlighted as a potential risk in our most recent fire safety checks. We still want everyone to be able to enjoy the outdoor space safely... we ask that customers safely store [chairs] inside of their home when not in use."
"For many of us, especially those who live alone, sitting outside our doors provides important comfort and social interaction."
"Removing this entirely risks increasing isolation and loneliness."
"The management company asked what if the postman trips on the doorstep. The postman should look where he's going!"
"I think they've got a fight on their hands."
Many accept safety matters, but residents say a home should not be run like a sterile institution.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
