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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to leave shoes on a rack outside my apartment

283 replies

Shoeracklady · 21/09/2017 09:00

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.

Aibu to leave shoes on a rack outside my apartment
Aibu to leave shoes on a rack outside my apartment
OP posts:
Redhead17 · 21/09/2017 10:24

I'd complain if I lived there

It looks a mess, drying out yes but as storage no.

3 options

Build shoe cupboard
Use rack indoors
But bigger apartment

Don't be so self indulged and me me me you don't own the whole block

paxillin · 21/09/2017 10:25

Can anyone else see the doors in the photo? Electricity meters? I think OP's proposed shoe cave will start behind those.

yodelehoho · 21/09/2017 10:26

You see...that's what happens. Your upstairs neighbours put an exercise bike in the corridor - and so it starts. Soon there will be plastic flamingos, kayaks and skiis there.

It looks blooming awful. Thank goodness there are rules agains this. Stick to them.

RunningOutOfCharge · 21/09/2017 10:26

So if it's meters in the cupboard they won't be accessible once blocked in with a new door in front

Bluelonerose · 21/09/2017 10:27

While I personally don't mind stuff in communal hallways at long as it's tidy and out the way as your is.
However I no people get very funny about communal spaces I had my ha send me a letter about a single bed that was bloking MY internal storage door in the communal area. Stupid thing was use had to move everything out the kids room while they themselves were doing some work and it was only out there for less than a day (moved out in morning moved back in when they went)

Liiinoo · 21/09/2017 10:29

YABU. It's a communal hallway not your storage space. I also have a v small flat and my cleaning equipment takes up valuable space but I just have to suck it up not start using the very spacious communal hall as an overflow.

Pluckedpencil · 21/09/2017 10:30

Yabu, in Europe in these communal buildings it is well known that communal hallways must be scrupulously clear of 'stuff'. At a maximum, a plant and an umbrella stand with a doormat. Ikea do shoe holders that barely take up any space at all in your inner hallway, you could even put them in the lounge and you'd barely notice they were there on a white wall. We have an absolutely massive communal hallway but it never occurred to me to use it, even though the flat above us is a holiday let and we are the only other ones in the building. The only thing I leave is the buggy, folded up downstairs.

SpareChangeDownTheSofa · 21/09/2017 10:30

There are several things wrong OP:

  1. Its looks scruffy (even if it were anything else other than shoes,piling stuff up outside your flat doesn't look good). I would be so embarrassed if someone was visiting and that eyesore was there, I would feel I had to apologise for my neighbours mess.

  2. Why do you need to keep all of them outside? Can't you just leave your wet ones there to dry (this would be understandable) surely you don't need all of those shoes in one day?

  3. You can't just build a cupboard and then say its only for you, it would be for everyone to use. You don't own that bit of the corridor.

  4. A bamboo rack doesn't look 'nice'

  5. The neighbour wasn't rude, he was just asking you a question which I would be asking too.

coddiwomple · 21/09/2017 10:31

Oh my... OP, I wouldn't put up my hopes too much about permission to build a front door and wall. The other residents would be crazy to allow that, you don't own the communal parts. At least there's no window in that hall you could block, but it still doesn't feel right. I would be curious to see how this all turn out.

Regarding the shoes... come on. Your neighbour wasn't rude, he was rightly asking you a very valid question. I would hate to be your neighbour, I can't even stand seeing shoes in my own entrance hall, even my toddler put his shoes away.

Please stop that nonsense, you are going to spoil it for everyone. A shoe rack full of shoes in the communal areas brings the value of the property down.

ElspethFlashman · 21/09/2017 10:32

Sorry OP, I think you are, in fact......

A Cheeky Fucker Neighbour.

SilverySurfer · 21/09/2017 10:33

Of course YABU. Could you explain why you want the shoes stored in the corridor instead of in your apartment? Maybe you don't want to see a fugly pile of shoes by the door, same reason your neighbour doesn't want to see them piled up in the corridor?

SnowiestMountain · 21/09/2017 10:33

YABU!! Move the shoes, even the picture is irritating me, it would drive me mad if that was in the communal area of my apartment!

RunningOutOfCharge · 21/09/2017 10:33

Also, why would a developer be interested? He's built the building and made his money.....and moved on

paxillin · 21/09/2017 10:33

But if you do put a door in a communal hallway, your neighbours would be withing their rights to store their brooms, buckets, broken bikes in there, too, since it is communal.

ElspethFlashman · 21/09/2017 10:33

GrinGrinGrin at "smelly shoe cave"

ElspethFlashman · 21/09/2017 10:34

She'll be talking about putting in a skylight next.....

MotherofSausage · 21/09/2017 10:35

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

SpringBreak · 21/09/2017 10:36

I'm amazed that there are buildings in ski resorts which don't have communal boot rooms in the basement for ski boots / poles / shovels

(but yes, yabu)

RhiWrites · 21/09/2017 10:36

I refute the claim he wasn't rude though. What sort of thing is that to say to a friendly new neighbour. Surely you would wait a day or two and then say "It really bothers me seeing your shoes there, please could you move them inside.

I get that, OP. I think the problem was he let your shoes before he met you. And they'd been annoying him for days

Horriblehistories · 21/09/2017 10:37

Oh and two more things.

That's not an alcove, it's the end of a corridor.

Leaving a pair of wet wellies/ski boots/brolly outside for a few hours is completely different to you putting a permanent rack of shoes outside.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 21/09/2017 10:38

You are more likely to get the residents association to agree to your shoe storage if you propose a cabinet rather than an exposed rack.
Your current rack looks a mess and I wouldn't want to see that at the end of my communal corridor

We have this one and it is surprisingly nice considering it's cheap and from Argos
www.argos.co.uk/product/5414567

Aibu to leave shoes on a rack outside my apartment
ElspethFlashman · 21/09/2017 10:40

I just want to see how tiny this apartment is inside, that apparently not even the Great God IKEA (may he live forever) can solve a shoe storage problem.

RunningOutOfCharge · 21/09/2017 10:41

spring which is why I wondered what the cupboard in the photo was!?

paxillin · 21/09/2017 10:41

I could store my ironing board, shoes, kids' bikes, empty planters, vacuum cleaner, spare mattress and recycling bin out there. This would create valuable square feet in my flat and remove unsightly things. I'll put them all in a neat bamboo shelving unit. Surely the neighbours won't mind, it is in everyone's interest to use the hallways after all?

magpiemay · 21/09/2017 10:41

You are definitely BU! - The communal hallways are just that - COMMUNAL - they are not yours and you should not be keeping any personals belongings in them

Furthermore it may negatively impact a fire risk assessment - after the Greenfell incident most fire services are recommending a zero tolerance policy on items in hallways and rightly so!