Yes, the whole 'the law has changed” thing was a furphy – but not as much as the “you could go to jail for drying your laundry on your balcony” farce, instigated by a fellow journalist of estimable talent.
And Mr Strata is right – your by-laws don't change unless you change them, regardless of what the current “model” by-laws are.
Me, I think I was too influenced by those Italian movies of the 60s. Every time I see clean white laundry on a balcony, I expect Sophia Loren to appear.