Aibu to leave shoes on a rack outside my apartment

[Shoeracklady]

I'll include lots of details so as not to drop feed.
New build property in a tourist resort. DP and I are the only year round residents, all the other owners use their apartments as second homes (so have fewer possessions here.)
We have been here for 6 months and have met most of the lovely neighbours so we are very happy here. DPs parents have decided to buy the flat opposite us too which will be full on when they are here but nice.
A new neighbour arrived yesterday and as they were standing in their doorway as I walked past I introduced myself and said nice to meet you etc. New neighbour's first words to me (after his name) were "So you're the one with the shoes, they're not going to be there permanently are they?"

I was quite taken aback by his rudeness and abruptness and mumbled that we might put a cupboard there at some point.

So AIBU to keep my shoes on a nice bamboo rack outside my apartment? They don't affect the new neighbour in anyway other than the fact he can see them when he walks into his flat. They don't smell. Can the sight of shoes really be so offensive?

Other apartments in the building also have shoe racks outside as well as things like umbrella holders.

Photo included as well as a diagram to show that shoe rack is neither a fire hazard (it is in an alcove) nor in anyway in the neighbours way.

I could possibly find space to store the shoes inside but it would be a much bigger inconvenience to me than that caused to the neighbour for having to see our shoes.

YABU. Communal space is mot for personal possession. What happens if another neighbour decides to leave a buggy permanently outside. The place will look messy and it lowers the tone.

Also because you have been there six months and your PIL are moving there, you don't have more say than everyone else.

I'm very surprised the management company hasn't already written to you but I expect they will soon if you don't keep your personal belongings in your own persona space.

They aren't in the neighbours way "physically" but the neighbours will have to see the eyesore every time they leave and return.

Keep them indoors OP!!!

RYFT!

I think most mumsnet are disappointed I didn't get in a big strop and stick the coat rack out there for good measure!

THE SHOES ARE NOW INSIDE!

I habit read the whole thread but I work in property and can tell you you shouldn't put any personal items in the hallways at all.

Not only do they impeded safe access and egress in an emergency but they can act as fuel in the event of a fire. A lot of managing agents remove personal items immediately if found for these reasons.

New neighbour currently parked in disabled space which isn't assigned to him! Seems he isn't a stickler for all the rules

I see where this is heading, OP.

You believe he was rude to you (he wasn't) so you're going to find fault with everything he does from now on.

Maybe he thinks it's a communal disabled space?

It's assigned with a number to our neighbour with a disabled son. No skin off my back. I only posted it as it made me chuckle at the irony.

Is this for real? lol I've never seen a shoe rack outside an apartment before. And an exercise bike that's hilarious 😂 having said that, I don't think it would bother me that much. I would just think it's a little weird that you store your shoes outside but then move on with my life

He probably thinks it's a visitor disabled space. Not your circus, not your monkeys.

Btw the alcoves on each corridor would be the perfect place to put fire extinguishers. But, extinguishers are only any use for a wastepaper bin sized fire so of limited use. You could probably do with professional advice as to what would be appropriate. Extinguishers on the corridors will get used to prop doors open and the tamper tags will get broken, speaking from experience.

Did the builder really not put in ski storage lockers? Where do you keep your skis?

Yep wow, I don't have extinguishers in any of my properties because they're misused,either as door stops or the wrong type of extinguisher can make a fire worse.

There are 'caves' (basically storage cupboards) in the basement where people can keep their skis so that is fine.but boots won't dry over night and will be rock solid and freezing to put on if kept down there.
I keep all of my ski kit at work so fortunately don't need to worry about that. It will be a problem for many though.

Thanks for the advise re. Fire extinguishers. I have no expertise in what's required but will discuss with the management company and other residents at the next meeting.

I've recently had a career change to buildings management and it's a fire hard because

1. It's flammable

1. The possibility that someone (IE you) could trip over it leaving the building.

Also you don't own the corridor. So you can't put anything in it

To be honest it would not bother me and red flags would be raised for any new neighbour who included a complaint in his first conversation with you when you were welcoming him - what a complete arsehole. As a second home owner I would be doing everything I could to get the permanent residents on side - who knows when he might need your help from afar. Just bring them in when he is around.

My neighbour used to leave his boots and football boots outside. We got letters to say ,nothing should be in hallways. They were actually at the top of the shared staircase. Bugged me for full 4 years we lived there and it seemed the letters didn't apply to him. It then graduated to the fuckwit sticking his rubbish outside his door overnight rather than go down to the bin. This stunk the whole floor out. Hallways should always be clear.

Be careful though - I know someone who left shoes outside the flat and the neighbours came back pissed one night and threw them down the lift shaft.

I think we all know that the shoe rack is going straight back in the corridor as soon as new neighbour goes back to his main home.

As a second home owner I would be doing everything I could to get the permanent residents on side - who knows when he might need your help from afar. Just bring them in when he is around.

The other side of that is wanting to know that there are no unnecessary fire hazards in the corridor outside his flat while he's away! It's not just the hazard of tripping over the shoes, as others have said. Anything that will burn is a fire hazard.

Glad you saw sense and brought your shoes in.

I can't help wondering how tiny your apartment must be that you feel you haven't got room for your shoes?! People keep shoes inside caravans on holiday after all!

Wow Santa
Do you always assume the worst of everyone or perhaps that is just what you would do?
I've admitted I was wrong, changed my behaviour yet still you feel the need to be snarky.

surely everyone will put boot dryers in the caves? its a major pita storing skis separately from boots isnt it and it will mean everyone carting dripping boots around the lifts and stairwells which will be a hazard in itself.

No electricity in the caves unfortunately

get the builders to wire some.in? easier than partitioning off bits of corridors?