I live in a former council house and have a pink front door, but my neighbors complained it was ‘offensive’ and now inspectors are coming round
A woman has been left in disbelief after her neighbors complained to the council about her pink front door.
Michelle Whitney, a business owner from Ormskirk, said she had received a letter from Lancashire County Council warning that they were sending inspectors to her home after receiving a ‘complaint’ about the door.
She uploaded a photo of her pink PVC door online, which was decorated with a baby pink floral wreath and matching garland above the entrance.
However, the council has since released a statement saying the letter is ‘not genuine’ and that they actually think the door is ‘quite fantastic’.
On her TikTok account @bubblebearsboutique, where Michelle runs a personalized gift business, she said the letter claimed some residents found her choice of door color “offensive.”
Michelle Whitney, from Ormskirk, was in disbelief when she received a letter from the council saying her neighbors found her pink door ‘offensive’
The so-called letter stated that the inspection would take place on March 4 – and Michelle did not have to attend.
Post a TikTok video of the letter, Michelle exclaimed, “Apparently my front door is offensive!”
The letter appeared to read in full: ‘This letter is being sent to inform you of a routine inspection of your property at number [redacted]Ormskirk, following a complaint about your front door we have been informed that it is offensive to residents.
‘The inspection will take place on March 4, 2024. You do not need to be present at the inspection.’
Michelle said the council has since contacted her to reassure her that there are no restrictions on her property and that they do not inspect the front doors.
She added: ‘My gut tells me someone has a real vendetta against the pink door!’
TikTok users were outraged by what happened and many said they would also like to have a pink door in their home.
One said: ‘As someone who lives in Ormskirk I love your door!’ while another said: ‘I find it insulting that there aren’t many pink doors!’
A third said: ‘Honestly. Some people need to get a life! Your door is beautiful!’
Michelle uploaded a copy of the letter she said she received from the municipality, stating that the inspectors would visit on March 4
One user was more dubious, saying: ‘Granted, I’ve never seen a pink door before, but I certainly wouldn’t call it offensive. I would call it unique.’
Experts say councils can fine residents if color choices fall outside the ‘accepted’ palette – especially in a listed building or conservation area, but the rules can vary from council to council.
Refusals to change the color of the door can even result in a Criminal Behavior Order (CBO).
Andy Simms, trade expert at MyBuilder.com, said: ‘While we as homeowners might fancy a crazy door colour, you could get into trouble if they offend the neighbors or breach local regulations.
“Always be considerate of your community, and if you are asked to make changes to the improvements you have made, or to repeated behaviors that are causing annoyance, make sure you do so.
‘Being hit with a CBO or ASBO is no joke – and could even have an effect on house prices on your street.’
TikTok users were outraged by what happened and many said they would also like to have a pink door in their home
This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred – a long-running dispute previously saw a Scottish mother forced to repeatedly repaint her front door.
Miranda Dickson was threatened with a £20,000 fine by Edinburgh Council when she painted over her white front door on Drummond Place to make it pink.
Council officials claimed she had breached regulations and that the new door color was ‘not in keeping with the historic character’ of the Grade II listed building.
After repeated complaints, she then painted it green and off-white. She then received a complaint about the off-white color.
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: ‘We are aware of a letter circulating on social media claiming to be from Lancashire County Council, following an alleged complaint about the front door from an Ormskirk resident.
‘We can confirm that this letter is not genuine and we will not be carrying out an inspection at this property on March 4 or any other date.
“These types of activities do not fall under the remit of the county council and the old brand name used to create the letter is a dead giveaway.
“For the record, we do not agree that the door in question is offensive.
“Actually, we think it’s quite fantastic.”