Pigs, conclusion, and a bonus law...
Believe it or not, you need permission to keep a pigsty at the front of your house
I know. Heart-breaking, isn't it. However, according to the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, you can’t keep a pigsty at the front of your home unless it’s been “suitably screened.” Though unlikely to be enforced today, this rule reflects old public hygiene standards and the importance of maintaining appearances, offering a glimpse into how property law once governed everything from safety to social order.
I know what you're thinking. "No one mentioned the back garden!" So before you go filling it with pigs, while it might be more acceptable, there are still several rules and considerations you must follow in relation to size, location, number of pigs, and animal welfare rules before you start buying mud from Amazon.
So there you have it. British property law. A weird web of archaic regulations that seem only to be in force to confuse everyone, even seasoned homeowners. From ancient liabilities to livestock-related risks, if the legal landscape proves only one thing, it is that reading the fine print isn’t just good advice, it’s a necessity.
Whether you’re planning to build, buy, or have a dig (or a pig) in your garden, there is a fair chance some utterly bizarre British property law could come back to bite you (or at least moo at you aggressively).
And finally, did you know that under the 'Salmon Act of 1986', it's illegal to handle salmon in "suspicious" circumstances, even though they aren't considered "royal fish"? Nothing whatsoever to do with property; I just really like this.
