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What's the strangest clause you've seen in a tenancy/property agreement?
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This is amazingly specific 😂 😂Arthog said:In our last house, we weren't allowed to brew beer. The house was built on Church land. Friends were not allowed to let the cabbages in their veg plot run to seed. There was a Horticultural Research Station close by.1 -
I've posted this before, but my house has a very old covenant stating the property can't be used for "any art or mystery".
(basically means it can't be used for trades work, but I love the wording.)
Also specifically says residents can't be teachers, estate agents or auctioneers. I am none of those things, but pretty sure that may come under the unenforceable category...4 -
@nicmylesnicmyles said:I've posted this before, but my house has a very old covenant stating the property can't be used for "any art or mystery".
(basically means it can't be used for trades work, but I love the wording.)
That’s interesting. Is this some sort of old English? Is a mystery a trade?0 -
A friends house had a clause that they must not sell alcohol from the premises because it had once been grounds of a Primitive Methodist Chapel.
They brewed quite a lot of beer and shared it liberally.Decluttering awards 2025: 🏅🏅🏅⭐️ ⭐️, DH: 🏅⭐️ and one for Mum: 🏅0 -
The in laws flat couldn't be used as a barber shop. To be sure it wasn't an issue my MiL checked that is was ok that a mobile hairdresser was allowed to come and cut their hair.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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Yes, it may well be more specific and limited to the types of work done by members of a guild.ripplyuk said:
The first house I bought(which was a little terrace, built for cotton mill workers about 1890-1900) there were covenants which expressly prohibited keeping pigs, rabbits or chickens, or running a brothel or a tannery on the premises.
There was also a covenant to prevent you running a pub on the premises, but which could potentially have have been read in such a way that you would have broken it if you served gin or other spirits to any guests you might have (but not if you served them beer or if they brought their own spirits)
I assume that the pigs, rabbits or chickens was based on the fact that people might well otherwise have kept these for food, and it would have been potentially smelly.
I believe that it was quite common to have covenants prohibiting alcohol, at one time, in the Victorian period when industrialists were building 'model villages;' such as Saltaire and Port Sunnlight (although I think both of those fairly quickly had to relent and allow pubs)
All posts are my personal opinion, not formal advice Always get proper, professional advice (particularly about anything legal!)1 -
The National Trust have a pub with no alcohol sales on the deeds https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/13/cross-keys-temperance-inn-cautley-cumbria
But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,Had the whole of their cash in his care.
Lewis Carroll3 -
OH grew up in a portion of London that had been owned by a wealthy Quaker and when the housing estate was built there was a ban on any sale of alcohol. Net result was a number of pubs, off licenses and restaurants were established all the way around the area. The only pub within the estate was actually located by the train station as that was the property of British Rail and was exempt from such restrictions.TBagpuss said:I believe that it was quite common to have covenants prohibiting alcohol, at one time, in the Victorian period when industrialists were building 'model villages;' such as Saltaire and Port Sunnlight (although I think both of those fairly quickly had to relent and allow pubs)I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php
Check your state pension on: Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK
"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung
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theoretica said:The National Trust have a pub with no alcohol sales on the deeds https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/13/cross-keys-temperance-inn-cautley-cumbria
Know it well! There's a nice fell walk in the Howgills (taking in Cautley Spout) that ends there. Such a shame, we always think, that you can't nip in for a pint.
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Covenant on my house forbids me from manufacturing cement.2
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