This summer’s oppressive heat makes it seem innocuous to take a swim in a backyard paddling pool and then relax on a deck chair.
However, a housing association informed its residents that parasols and paddling pools needed special approval and that garden sitting posed a fire danger.
Additionally, the laws clearly restrict not just wooden shelters and screens but also basketball nets and AstroTurf, thereby rendering many backyards useless.
The Apna Ghar housing association is imposing limits on occupants of houses designed for the handicapped, which will make it more difficult for them to deal with the heat.
An agent who was dispatched to visit residents wanted to take pictures of a parasol and a paddling pool one family had in their backyard for their crippled kid, but she stated she would need permission because they may catch fire.
The family of NHS manager Brian Leveson, 54, who lives in a three-bed maisonette in Tottenham, north London, with his civil servant wife Suzanne and children Zack, 17, and Dottie, 18, is among those impacted.
A housing association representative informed us last week that our backyard parasol was combustible and that he required a photo of our paddling pool to see if it was permitted, according to Mr. Leveson.
“Our youngster had convulsions connected to the heat, and our home was reaching temps exceeding 30C.” I had heat stroke as well, so I had to take a bath to cool myself. That is why we purchased the kiddie pool.
But they claim that without their consent, we cannot make minor changes to the garden. Even our two upholstered deck chairs are not permitted.
“Our kid Zack has brain impairment and is especially susceptible to seizures in the heat,” Mr. Leveson said.
Although Apna Ghar Housing Association is primarily for disabled individuals, they are already issuing menacing letters.
These “garden standards,” which are ostensibly for fire safety, are endangering lives.
But does it imply my wife’s underwear drying on the line in the laundry room is flammable if they believe a paddling pool full of water may be combustible?
According to the letter from the housing association, it is your duty to keep your backyard free of any objects that pose a fire safety concern.
This includes combustible garden furniture and chairs, storage units, sheds, AstroTurf, basketball hoops, BBQ units, bamboo screens, etc.
Apna Ghar oversees 300 houses with accessibility features. An inquiry for comment was not answered.