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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Hoarder neighbour spreading into communal hall

69 replies

CSIblonde · 16/10/2020 23:19

I live on the ground floor of a converted Victorian house. The hall is shared between 2flats downstairs & 1flat upstairs. The woman opposite me hoards & according to the flat above, the smell when you go in her flat is awful. Our agent doesn't do quarterly checks so prob has no
idea. Anyway, she's spread some stuff into the hall. Am I being petty mentioning it to the letting agent? The neighbour can be volatile, so I'm wary of talking to her myself. The hall used to be tidy & welcoming: coming home to crap in the hall now is depressing: you have to pick your way thru the scooters,bikes,shoes,wellies etc. I wouldn't mind but her flat has a side area behind the gate & a paved tiny garden where she can put stuff. It's clear ,bar the neighbour aboves bike which he never uses any more.

OP posts:

RubyViolet · 16/10/2020 23:22

Do it sooner rather than later !

MiniMum97 · 16/10/2020 23:22

No you are not petty mentioning it. That needs to biped in the bud before the hall is overrun.

I have huge sympathies for people with hoarding disorder but she can't start to see communal space as another storage area.

Good luck.

MiniMum97 · 16/10/2020 23:22

*Nipped

safariboot · 16/10/2020 23:23

YANBU.

Her hoarding could well be a hazard to others in the building if it fuels a fire or attracts mice and rats. Obstructing the common areas is a hazard in itself, and gives the landlord a justification to look into things further.

user1471457751 · 16/10/2020 23:25

Please do mention it. It is a fire risk. It will be against the terms of the lease to store stuff in communal areas

shimmyshimmycocoapop · 16/10/2020 23:25

It's a fire risk. Report away

burglarbettybaby · 16/10/2020 23:26

Absolutely get this sorted via letting agent. It will only worsen. Also a fire hazard as mentioned.

Crayfishforyou · 16/10/2020 23:27

If it’s restricting access at all for anybody, including the hoarding neighbour, then it can be deemed a fire risk.

BugCatcher879 · 16/10/2020 23:28

Our council has a campaign on this just now. Fire risk

mumwon · 16/10/2020 23:33

contact fire service (non urgent enquiry number for safety advise) if LL /agent doesn't help
they might come & check & explain to her re the safety - they may well have more legal clout?

MissSarahThane · 16/10/2020 23:35

It will be against the terms of the lease to store stuff in communal areas

And probably against the terms of the buildings insurance policy.

You could see if your local fire brigade offers home safety checks. That would give you some ammunition to use when you report it, and the agent some ammunition to use against her.

Has she got children? You mention scooters, bikes and wellies. If so, the hoarding is a safeguarding issue, surely?

SimplyPizza · 17/10/2020 10:11

It sounds bitchy and sneaky, telling tales to the landlord before even speaking to her about it herself. What if he kicks her out and she is homeless because you were too scared to talk to her? The neighbours going into her flat to see what it smells of is not on either.

Houseplanted · 17/10/2020 10:18

It will get worse so definitely report it to the agent.

IHaveAGreyLamp · 17/10/2020 10:21

Contact Fire Service plus environmental health and ask them to come round. They monitor these sorts of things, particularly as it’s a shared house which poses a fire risk to other residents.

Laaalaaaa · 17/10/2020 10:24

The fire brigade would be interested in this too. Could cause a major hazard in event of a fire.

ScribblingMilly · 17/10/2020 10:24

The landlord is responsible for fire safety, trip hazards, flammable materials etc in the communal areas, so any accidents potentially caused by this are on them. Which means they will want to and are legally obliged to sort it out. It's not snitching, it's just being responsible. Maybe for you it's primarily about appearance, but actually legally it's about the safety of everyone in the building. Pressure the agent about it - it's them you want to deal with, not your neighbour.

ScribblingMilly · 17/10/2020 10:30

www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/property-management/landlords-responsibilities/private-rented-sector-landlords/

Okbutnotgreat · 17/10/2020 10:48

YANBU it’s a potential fire risk never mind the risk of rats etc. She may have a problem but it shouldn’t be allowed to affect you so report away.

MilerVino · 17/10/2020 10:55

She won't be made homeless, particularly not at the moment. The LL will just have to speak to her and give her notice to move the stuff, before they consider taking further action. And whatever happens to her because she leaves stuff in the hall is down to her, not the OP.

Also, though it has escaped your notice, there is a difference between going into a flat and noticing it smells, and going into a flat to see what it smells of.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 17/10/2020 11:01

Absolutely report it, it's a fire hazard. Should there, god forbid, ever be a fire and the communal hallway was filled with smoke, you wouldn't be able to see where you were going and could trip over all this crap while attempting to make your escape. Report it.

Brighterthansunflowers · 17/10/2020 11:08

YANBU it’s a safety risk

I live in a small purpose built block of flats and we get regular reminders from the building management not to leave stuff in the hallway (I never have so it’s not aimed at me). They usually give a date when they will inspect the hall and zest any items still there will be removed and destroyed.

ktp100 · 17/10/2020 11:10

As far as I'm aware any flats with communal areas must be kept clear for fire safety reasons.

You really do need to complain about this as it will only get worse.

Wouldn't hurt to mention that you've seen a rat (even though you haven't) - landlords/agencies are never happy to face the prospect of building -wide pest control bills so are way more likely to do a spot check and sort it out.

LakieLady · 17/10/2020 11:11

Definitely report. It could be a real hazard if people needed to get out of the building in an emergency.

The council here are really strict about people leaving bikes, pushchairs etc in communal spaces for that very reason.

Veterinari · 17/10/2020 11:16

@SimplyPizza

Well legally he can't just kick her out so that's pretty unlikely. And not confronting a volatile and possibly aggressive neighbour with a mental health problem may be considered 'bitchy' by you but would probably be considered sensible by the majority. Her behaviour is her own responsibility and at the moment her volatile nature and encroachment into communal areas is putting other tenants at risk

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 17/10/2020 11:19

I’d get the agent/freeholder to deal with this.

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