[Clansman]

Don't know if this is the right section for this but thought some on here may have experienced this.

a neighbour got 6 laying hens from me after asking permission to keep them from the local council around 2 years ago.

No problems until they got a letter the other day from the same council stating that they were in breach of their title deeds for keeping livestock and they would have to remove them 

Can they give permission and then remove it?

The title deeds are dated 1936 and the council are the benefactors

[doganjo]

Did they get the permission in writing?  If so they could query the reason for withdrawal of that permission.

If it was just verbal I suspect they have no comeback

[chrismahon]

I'm amazed the Council are enforcing this, unless another neighbour has complained. Could be argued that they are pets, not livestock, but if it goes to litigation it could be a very expensive business indeed as the loser will pay the costs. So I think rehoming the chickens immediately would be the best option.

[pharnorth]

Councils are obliged to follow through if there is a complaint and doubtful they would otherwise.  My suggestion would be query the change if they have the permission in writing, if they do not make the point they 6 chickens are a family pet not 'livestock' as there is no commercial enterprise.  Pictures of cute children feeding them might help!!

[Clansman]

Permission was given in writing, which appears to have been a huge cock up on the part of the council as that now nullifies the title deed burden 

Chickens are staying 

[pharnorth]

Fantastic. Well done all. The clause was probably there to stop nuisance ( e.g loud cockerels) which is still,enforceable by other means, or commercial activity so it would have been a draconian application. Clauses that old can be challenged but as said by Chrismahon would have been pricey to challenge

[Penninehillbilly]

Good  ,
Permission was given in writing,
 
have you informed the council yet?
 
good reminder to get everything in writing 

[pgkevet]

It's probably now moot but my wife pointed me to this link http://www.property118.com/landlords-must-let-tenants-keep-chickens-and-rabbits/10688/ which relates to a 1950 allotment act and would probably overturn the 1936 deeds.....

[Womble]

A friend of mine bought a small mid-terraced house that included 'permission to keep one milking goat' in the title deeds.

Not a pair of them though, you notice - that would have been ridiculous!