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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shared balcony

42 replies

Sleepflower22 · 02/05/2019 12:26

We moved into a new flat two weeks ago. Had requested, and been told it was ok before we moved in (signed lease five weeks before) that the next door neighbour would move her things over from the shared balcony - say it's 10ft long, she's put up a makeshift fence that gives her 8ft of space and we have 2.

On her side is just piles of rubbish, old posters, rotting tea towels etc. She's pulled back the pigeon netting on our side to put her barrier up so there's bird shit everywhere.

Agency have written to her but said no one has ever complained about it before so she's very shocked and they will follow up again in June to see if she's managed to move her things.

Aibu to think this is unfair and we should be able to use a space we're paying rent for?

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 02/05/2019 12:29

You should definitely have use of it. I’d have asked it to be rectified before signing the lease though.

IsYourGoogleBroken · 02/05/2019 12:29

Contact the LLs and say you want rent reduction until you can use it. Depending on whether you want to keep in with the neighburs given proximity , I would just push her fence back acouple of feet so you have a 50 50 split - and very very liberally splosh the dettol around. That would cause issues though.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 02/05/2019 12:32

Politely suggest to the agency that if it's going to take till June (seriously!) that you'd like a rebate for losing the use of the balcony for so long. It's not acceptable for you to rent somewhere and not get what you paid for.

sadkoala · 02/05/2019 12:36

What PPs said ^

If it really is going to take them that long ask for a reduced rate until you can use the full space you are paying for.

AryaStarkWolf · 02/05/2019 12:39

Can you not move her fence to the 5ft line and put her stuff in her side?

Original poster
Sleepflower22 · 02/05/2019 12:45

We've tried to shunt it over a bit but there's so much stuff in front of it on her side, it's totally impossible.

Was worried we'd seem like arseholes coming in and upsetting an old lady but now I'm not so sure we are!

OP posts:
AryaStarkWolf · 02/05/2019 12:55

Was worried we'd seem like arseholes coming in and upsetting an old lady but now I'm not so sure we are!

Of course you're not, I'd be raging

TaxiPlease · 02/05/2019 13:27

Was worried we'd seem like arseholes coming in and upsetting an old lady but now I'm not so sure we are!

You're not and should absolutely be able to use your half of the balcony much sooner than June! However, I'm not sure doing everything through the agency is the best way to proceed. I know you shouldn't have to, but in your shoes I would buy a (cheapish) bunch of flowers, go over to introduce yourselves and kill her with kindness. Tell her that you understand how storage can be a problem in flats, but that you need and are looking forward to using your balcony space.

I imagine that sharing a balcony with a neighbour you don't get on with would be quite awkward, so I would do anything to try and build a good relationship. Maybe look into getting a nicer, less make-shift partition / privacy screen type of thing and a couple of nice plants as well so it feels like an improvement for both parties.

Passthecherrycoke · 02/05/2019 13:30

Yes, it’s the owners Problem so offer a reduced rent until you can use it. It’s not easy for them to deal with her either but at least this keeps the momentum up.

Disfordarkchocolate · 02/05/2019 13:31

I agree with the go over and say hello suggestions, even if you have to move it for her it needs doing quicker than June. Make sure you have some seats and plants out marking your space the same day.

RosaWaiting · 02/05/2019 13:49

can you also comment to the agency about the stuff on her balcony - could it be a fire hazard?

Original poster
Sleepflower22 · 02/05/2019 14:01

We've been and tried to speak to her but she doesn't answer the door! I agree though, I don't want it to be awkward or horrible.

Emailed the agency again this morning to say we don't feel June is acceptable and attached some photos as got the impression they think we're just kicking up a fuss about a few plants.

OP posts:
PinkHeart5914 · 02/05/2019 14:10

Shared balcony sounds like a hell situation anyway to be honest. Why is this even a thing? Would of been just as easy to make them individual when building the places as your always gong to get some selfish sod.

What about putting a polite letter in her door offering to help her move her rubbish (obviously don’t call her things rubbish in the note) if she doesn’t answer the door?

Keep emailing agents weekly, hopefully they will get bored of hearing from you and sort it out

Famalamaringwrong · 02/05/2019 14:19

Chuck stuff away that's in your space. She wont miss rotting tea towels etc and probably wants to get rid of stuff but physically or emotionally cant I.e a hoarder.

ScrewyMcScrewup · 02/05/2019 14:21

She isn't worried about being awkward and horrible to you, so no need for you to be too generous. Keep on at the agency until they sort it!

DisplayPurposesOnly · 02/05/2019 14:25

Put note through door asking nicely that she clear your half of the balcony within a week.

If no response, move her stuff from balcony, place by her front door. Again, polite note to say here's your stuff that we asked you to move.

dreichuplands · 02/05/2019 14:32

I wouldn't leave this situation until June. I would get back to the letting agents and explain that you need access to the space that you are paying for.
It sounds like you are going to need some kind of barrier between your balcony space and your neighbors.
Does the neighbor require support with cleaning the balcony? Is her house in the same condition as the outside space?

JustTwoMoreSecs · 02/05/2019 14:35

I agree with asking for a rent reduction based on the surface you can’t use: prorata it based the total surface you are renting and sends the detail to the agency. So for ex, we can’t use 1/10th if the surface so we are asking for a 10% reduction.

TokyoSushi · 02/05/2019 14:36

I think that we need to see a picture of this balcony to help...

ATowelAndAPotato · 06/05/2019 17:19

Does it look like this Sleepflower22 ?

Shared balcony
CurtainsOpen · 06/05/2019 17:22

Did this literally not come up upon viewing?

Original poster
Sleepflower22 · 06/05/2019 20:40

It did come up on viewing and we were reassured it would all be shifted and once it was, they'd get someone out to erect a divider.

Good news is that some of the mess (old picture frames and boxes) have been moved today. Her 'fence' is still in place but hoping that there's some progress being made - and if it's not clear in the next couple of days, we should be able to push the fence along ourselves now it's a bit more clear in front of it.

Have attached a pic - it's hard to see what's on there but the red circle is where she's currently erected her barrier.

Shared balcony
OP posts:
LikeDolphinsCanSwin · 06/05/2019 20:46

That’s really bad

Cryalot2 · 06/05/2019 20:51

Heck that is really bad . Good wishes .

sunshinesupermum · 06/05/2019 20:52

What a tiny balcony to be a shared one!

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