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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbours Pushchairs Blocking Access To My Front Door!!

38 replies

possum18 · 23/07/2013 00:11

New to Mumsnet - First Post!! :) Please be friendly :)
I have just moved into a groundfloor flat with one Ground Floor neighbour and 2 Upstairs neighbours. They ALL have very young children (One has 3) and all leave their pushchairs in the (TINY) downstairs communal hallway. The flat I have moved into was vacant for 6+months and they all got used to leaving their pushchairs in the hallway and in my flat's Doorway.
The Issue is that I now live there and they are still leaving 4/5 large pushchairs outside my front door (literally in my doorway) and in the hall. On my first day living here one friendly neighbour said she would speak to the others and moved her pushchair. This was great for 3 days until they were all back (including hers!!!!) HELP!!??

OP posts:

RobotBananas · 23/07/2013 00:15

Could you get your local firemen round to do a safety check? They'll obviously object to anything that's blocking access and probably go and have a word with your neighbours.

ImNotBloody14 · 23/07/2013 00:16

Could you put a welcome mat and a plant at your front door as a visual reminder that the flat is no longer empty?

Also, just keep moving any pushchairs that block your way- they'll soon get the hint.

NatashaBee · 23/07/2013 00:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

possum18 · 23/07/2013 00:25

ImNotBloody14 - Brilliant Idea with the welcome mat I've been moving the pushchairs onto the staircase everyday for 3 weeks and still have not got the hint
I'm growing concerned that all other 3 flats are very friendly and I don't want to P* them all off and be the horrible neighbour they all talk about!!

OP posts:

ImNotBloody14 · 23/07/2013 00:41

In that case then i would go with the fire safety inspection idea- getting a 3rd party to tell them it needs to stop happening.

OrangeLily · 23/07/2013 00:58

Knock on their doors and explain quite clearly. If they don't understand that put them outside where they are not in your way.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 23/07/2013 01:06

I own a share of the freehold as well as my ground floor flat (now rented out). Our lease very specifically says that communal hallways cannot be blocked due to health and safety regulations - the prams could impede a safe exit in the event of a fire, particularly in the dark. It may well be that the other tenants have come to some arrangement between themselves - who is the building managed by? I'd ask the managing agent to come round and do a spot check and leave signs asking that hallways be kept clear.

Original poster

possum18 · 23/07/2013 01:15

Wibblypiglikesbananas - all other residents seem to have made the agreement with themselves as they are all in the same boat, which I am sympathetic with but they have chosen my door to dump their prams. I'm just concerned that by raising the issue officially through management that friction will be caused and it will be me vs. 3 other flats.

OP posts:

StuartG · 23/07/2013 01:19

Take the push chairs into your flat.. clearly it's some form of moving in present. Somehow I think they'd raise someone was living there soon enough!

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 23/07/2013 01:21

Do you rent? Do they rent? If they're all owners, it may be tricky if they've clubbed together, but they still shouldn't be blocking access. If they're all renters, you're in a stronger position. Could you ask your landlord to have a word?

Original poster

possum18 · 23/07/2013 01:22

BEST ANSWER AWARD if only i had the balls...

OP posts:

Original poster

possum18 · 23/07/2013 01:22

I'll phone management in the morning, wish me luck!!!

OP posts:

OrangeLily · 23/07/2013 01:23

Love Stuart's answer there go for it! Leave a passive aggressive note pinned/superglued to each pushchair explaining the obvious!!

weisswusrt · 23/07/2013 08:24

Padlock them together with a chain. Leave a note saying they can pay you a parking violation fine of tea and cake and you will release them.

sleeplessbunny · 23/07/2013 08:28

can you fold them up so they take up less space? It seems very selfish of them, I understand they would want to leave them downstairs but blocking someone's doorway is very rude.

filee777 · 23/07/2013 08:28

I'd just pop a really nicely written note through each door explaining that its really not nice for you and it's making you feel uncomfortable

Also mention that if it does not stop you will have to contact the buildings manager and if it still doesn't stop you will have to move the prams outside of the communial area which would be on the street.

AnotherStitchInTime · 23/07/2013 08:31

I had this in our old flat, we used to lug our buggy to the first floor so as not to block the access.

It is a fire risk, you need a clear exit at all times. My landlord and the fire safety officer wrote a letter reminding the tenants why we don't block access.

whois · 23/07/2013 08:35

Honestly it's hardly a surprise is it if you live on a first floor with DC that you will have to lug the pushchair upstairs.

There is no way they should be blocking your door, and probably no way they should even be in the communal hall.

Check lease, phone management company and get a fire inspection.

I might be tempted to pile them up on top of each other in a very tangled way at the bottom of the stairs but not sure that is a v reasonable approach!

MiaowTheCat · 23/07/2013 08:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RobotBananas · 23/07/2013 09:09

Calling your local fire station really will be the easiest way of dealing with it. If you ring management you'll get their backs up.

AnotherStitchInTime · 23/07/2013 09:57

Should point out it was not us blocking the access, it was the 4 other flats, at times 6 buggies blocking access when they had friends over.

We were the ones that complained as we couldn't get past with our buggy when carrying it to the main door.

coco87 · 23/07/2013 11:12

I would start off nice and gently, with a friendly note posted through their doors. I would also perhaps put a very clear note on your door saying that the flat is occupied and you cannot get through the hallway/it is a fire risk.

If they ignore these and keep doing it, then bring out the big guns.

arabesque · 23/07/2013 11:20

I would talk to the management Agents. When a couple of residents started leaving bikes and pushchairs in the communal entrance or my apartment block the Management Agency put a notice up on the wall stating that if they weren't removed by x date they would be removed by the Agency.
The weren't long disappearing .

ouryve · 23/07/2013 11:26

Park the buggies squarely in front of their own doors, if you have to move them. Meantime I do agree that it;s a good idea to phone the fire brigade. If I'd left our buggies outside our front door, they'd have got wet or would have been stolen, and we have no hallways in our terraced house, so I can't see how it would be any more inconvenient for them to fold their buggies and take them inside.

BlackeyedSusan · 23/07/2013 11:27

you can buy pushchairs that weigh 5kg (single) or 7.5 kg (double) so they are easy to get up the stairs.

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