Why Would Someone Remove Shutters?

[aoifugh]

Hello,

First time posting - hope its correct !

Renting a property I presume to be from the Victorian era - bizarrely, most of the house seems completely untouched. There are 70s sinks and light fixtures and of course wiring in all the rooms but underneath the threadbare carpets are what seem to be original floorboards ?? Scoff all you want but remember this is a rental so the landlord probably wouldnt invest otherwise.

My reason for posting is our downstairs windows. They have shutters either side and after much effort I was able to crack them open from underneath a few layers of white paint only to find empty, unpainted boxes remained.

My question is; why would the landlord remove the shutters only ? It’s a complete shame to have them removed but it also seems pointless. Any ideas ??

Kind regards.

 

[a twig]

Because they were unfashionable?

Or they required maintenance and it was cheaper to throw up a curtain rail / blinds.

 

[Drayton]

Yes, a lot of work for something very old-fashioned.

All mine went, plus most of the architrave in the front room, when they replaced the original windows and 'modernised', probably in the 60s. They put up curtains with a hardboard pelmet instead, along with hardboard panels on the doors et al. Most of the rest of the terrace still have the shutters on the ground and first floors so I feel very deprived.

Or, as your house does not sound over-modernised, perhaps they got some rot and were therefore taken out.

Or they disliked them for some personal reason. The lady who lived next door to this house until she was 6 said she didn't like the shutters because of having to close them for blackout. (I know you got fined if you were late with it and I imagine it was a bit of a scramble sometimes, plus there are fantatic sunsets over the sea - sometimes, anyway - which you would then miss.)

 

[Cubist]

My question is; why would the landlord remove the shutters only ? It’s a complete shame to have them removed but it also seems pointless. Any ideas ??

Mindless vandalism, pure and simple!