A TENANT is looking to take a housing provider to court after it took his doormat away.

Paul Curtis’s doormat was confiscated from outside his flat after Flagship Homes said it was an obstruction and trip hazard.

The issue came to light after the Grenfell Tower tragedy with housing associations assessing tenants’ homes for potential hazards which previously had been considered appropriate.

Paul, of Weatons Drive, Highwoods, Colchester, said: “We have been in this flat for ten years, since it was built.

“We have had a doormat in the hallway since we moved in and so has every other resident in our block.

“We got a letter stating there’s to be no items stored in the hallway because it’s a fire hazard.

“I had a couple of storage boxes out there and I moved them because it was fair play, it could be a hazard.

“Then Flagship came in and removed all our doormats.”

Gazette:

The residents were told they could put a doormat on the inside of their property but if they did so they would not be able to open their doors.

Mr Curtis called Flagship Homes and said he was told it was new policy since the Grenfell Tower disaster.

He said: “The Grenfell Tower fire was caused by the cladding on the building. There was no mention of people tripping over doormats.

“It’s quite trivial, if I’m honest, but it’s just a step too far.”

Mr Curtis is now consulting a solicitor about taking Flagship to court.

Sam Greenacre, head of housing at Flagship Homes, said: “For the safety of customers we have an obligation to ensure all buildings and the communal areas within them meet fire regulations.

“This includes making sure in the event of an emergency, everyone can escape quickly and safely.

"For this reason we introduced a zero tolerance approach to items in communal areas.

"Customers were informed of this decision by letter one month before implementation.”