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Original poster

Flat management disposing of pushchairs

89 replies

user1492759984 · 28/04/2017 12:40

I own my flat but it's leasehold and the communal areas are owned and dealt with by a management company. It's a small block of four flats and I live on the top floor. There are five flights of stairs to climb to get to my flat and no lift. I live alone with 10 month old DD. The entrance way has space for two pushchairs without this obstructing access (one neighbour and I have one each that we keep there) but yesterday we received letters from the management company stating that if pushchairs continue to be left there they will be taken away and disposed of, due to fire regulations. They have also taped up a notice down there saying the sane thing. I accept that they have to follow the regs however can they legally remove and dispose of our property? I can't physically lift the buggy and the baby up all those stairs at the same time (especially as I always have bags as well) and this would mean leaving DD alone upstairs while I go back down and get the buggy and bring it up. Also my flat is absolutely tiny so there is nowhere to store it so it's a real pain. I'll have to do what they say though I guess. Therefore has anyone got any recommendations for an ultra, ultra light stroller that I could carry with one hand and DD in the other please?

OP posts:
FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 28/04/2017 12:44

I would imagine that if it comes under fire safety then they would class it as dumped.

Can't you bump the buggy up the stairs backwards? Or, leave DD in her cot while you retrieve buggy.

PotteringAlong · 28/04/2017 12:45

Have you got a car? Could you leave it in the boot? (The pushchair, not the baby).

Sundaysmumisfullofwine · 28/04/2017 12:48

Maclaren mark ii. Ultra light, can put it over your shoulder folded up and still carry baby.

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 28/04/2017 12:48

And, get a hook and hang buggy on the wall.

Original poster
user1492759984 · 28/04/2017 12:49

Felicia yes I suppose they could be classed as dumped or abandoned as they're not actually inside our flats.

Pottering I thought of that but the closest parking area is a five minute walk (another annoying thing about living here!) so if I've got shopping I wouldn't be able to carry it and DD. There aren't any outsideas either.

Looks like I need to get a stroller that is roughly the weight of an umbrella! Would love to know if one exists!

OP posts:
Abraiid2 · 28/04/2017 12:50

Why would it be a problem to leave her for a few minutes in her own flat? Door locked while you go down and get the pushchair?

QueenofEsgaroth · 28/04/2017 12:50

What is the stairway like, could you set up a pulley system?

Is there a way of hanging bike hooks or something on the bannister or wall of the entrance way so you could fold and hang buggy to keep access clear?

Can you and the neighbours organise a lockable shed outside by the entrance?

You could speak to the fire safety service yourself and see if they will come and have a look and suggest a solution. I suspect now you have been notified you probably have to comply and it is likely a neighbour has objected to the access being blocked by buggies.

Original poster
user1492759984 · 28/04/2017 12:50

Ah thanks for the recommendation! Will look for one of those.

OP posts:
BlurryFace · 28/04/2017 12:50

I lived in a third floor flat with only stairs and while we were allowed to leave the buggy under the stairs, I couldn't manage both kids and shopping/laundry so would leave them in cot/playpen while bringing things up. It should be fine for you to do that, it's only a few minutes.

Semaphorically · 28/04/2017 12:52

We have a Quinny Zapp that I can lift DD in. I wouldn't want to do it up 5 flights of stairs though.

Is there any outside space? Can you ask the management company if you can pay to have a small pushchair-sized shed built that you have the key for?

IceLemonGin · 28/04/2017 12:52

Could you use a sling? Leave buggy in the car, pop baby in sling and carry shopping upstairs. Means you wouldn't have to find space to store it in your flat too.

kirstxx · 28/04/2017 12:53

I think they do have the right to do this unfortunately. It's usually in the tenancy agreement somewhere re leaving items in communal hallways.

Mine only specified bikes but this could be because it was a house converted into 3 self contained flats aimed at students they still left their bikes in our very narrow hall, it was so annoying. According to my tenancy agreement I couldn't even have a child stay overnight so it seems they wouldn't have mentioned prams specifically.

It's worth having a read of your agreement to see what it says though. You may be able to argue on a technicality? Not sure.

DalaHorse · 28/04/2017 12:53

Babyjogger city jogger folds in half with one hand, from a handle in the middle of the seat. It folds flat so you can put it behind the sofa or a door and it's not heavy. Also has a decent sized basket underneath and a long hood that comes right over. Also the seat reclines fully to almost lie-flat, so it's excellent for naps and sun protection.

DalaHorse · 28/04/2017 12:53

City mini that is.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/04/2017 12:54

aria pushchair is 5 kilos, has a carrying handle on the side and can be carried upstairs while you have baby in a backpack. or carry baby up and have shopping in a backpack. (not sure if they are still sold though, but there should be something similar) (incidently the double was 7.5 kilos and a little more tricky. ) and I had two non safe on stairs children at that point.

with practise it can be unfolded with one hand as well.

WheresTheEvidence · 28/04/2017 12:54

Get a mini citi jogger you can carry it one handed and hold a toddler baby on your hip with ease. And if you get a ruck sack for shopping it might be doable

kirstxx · 28/04/2017 12:56

sorry just re-read and realise you own :|

DavidPuddy · 28/04/2017 12:57

I try to get all my shopping into a rucksack so I have my hands free for the baby and the buggy. But I don't have a car so only buy as much as I can carry, which to be honest, is a pain in the arse and means daily trips to the shops. Probably a rucksack won't help you much?

BlackeyedSusan · 28/04/2017 12:58

4.6kg

acquiescence · 28/04/2017 12:59

I have a silver cross zest which I can fold down with one hand and then carry on my shoulder up the steep steps to my house, with baby and shopping if needed. I usually take a sling with me so I can have both hands free if needed, baby on front and pushchair on shoulder.

FrancisCrawford · 28/04/2017 12:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scottishdiem · 28/04/2017 12:59

I used to be left outside of the house in my pram/stroller when I was younger. I am pretty sure its safer than that to leave your baby in the flat and then come back down to get the pushchair after taking the baby and shopping up????

stargirl1701 · 28/04/2017 13:04

Leave it in the car and use a Toddler Tula?

DalaHorse · 28/04/2017 13:07

Having checked the city mini is slightly heavier than some others mentioned but that's because it has a hood and is more robust than a small umbrella folding buggy.

If you need it to be your main or only pram then hoods, baskets and lie-flat facility etc are probably worth the extra weight. If it's a secondary buggy literally for short quick trips then a cheap umbrella-folding stroller is probably better.

I do like that you can fold the city mini with one hand as much as carry it with one hand.
Just as important imo.

How old is your dd?

CottonSock · 28/04/2017 13:09

Ickle bubba auora