Messy neighbours

[Butterfly212]

Hi need to rant….Where we live we have a shared entrance and stairway with neighbours then our entrance doors are opposite each other there is a small square of hallway between us. I have an issue that the neighbours clutter the hallway and stairs with all their crap . On the small square hallway they have one of those builders buckets filled with crap like dirty shoes umbrellas etc they also have a scooter, tent , more umbrellas, jump start kit which hardly leaves any room when we come out of the door .Then going up the stairs they have about 6 sets of dirty shoes covered in mud. To add insult they have added a thick folded up gymnastics matt at the bottom which slightly blocks you getting out the main door but it’s doable. Now ive had so many polite conversations leading to arguments with her about this told her its a fire hazard/ health and safety not to mention it looks so trampy it’s embarrassing when i have visitors it cant even be cleaned properly it makes me so angry its the entrance to my home. She won’t listen i don’t know what else to do.

I agree with everyone who suggested reporting to the fire brigade and council. I know it's annoying that it's an eyesore but the fact that all of her stuff is also a fire hazard should hopefully get the problem sorted fairly sharpish once you report. Good luck with it all.

The fire brigade absolutely will come out. Fire safety is a big issue in flats at the moment, as you can imagine.

The fact the gym mat makes it hard for you to open the communal front door is a huge issue. Imagine trying to do that in a panic in a dark, smoke filled hallway.

I just don’t understand how she doesn’t think its an issue i cant get her to understand

Invite in a Tom cat to “scent” it.

Dirty chancers. Everything on the stairs I’d lift and pile it up against her door.

fire brigade are great they come out and do a check, then issue advice. Contact your local councillor and get advice on the best course of action.

If the building is factored/managed then insist that this is dealt with.

🤣🤣 brilliant

Definitely get the brigade round. If they give you a report on the dangers and the improvements needed, send it to your landlord with dark mutterings about liability and voiding insurance. He might suddenly find it easier to discover the freeholder.

Op, this is one of those issues not to let up on. Your idiot neighbour is 100% in the wrong. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and I would be squeaking like a fucking dog toy over this.

Definitely not letting it go its makes me livid every day im pretty sure their house is the same 🤮

@Butterfly212

Get in touch with your local councillors also as they are probably wanting to be re-elected next month and they generally are a good source of information and have contacts.

But the fire brigade is definitely worth getting in touch with.

The starting point for this would be the managing agent or landlord/freeholder of the building (not your own landlord if those two are different).

I would take photos and submit to them and make it clear that you are formally notifying them of a persistent fire safety risk. Give them a week to address it, and confirm that you are in the interim engaging with the Fire Service and will escalate to the council if nothing is done.

If they do not deal with it / respond, escalate it to the council (environmental health) with the same evidence and also the evidence of having made the request and it having been ignored.

Keep at it if you're not getting traction.

op

have you sent photos to the LL??

The mat is blocking you getting in or out of front door fuck that chuck it out ..ask her one more time and tell her this is the last time I will ask after this I’m taking it further…do you know what chuck the fucking lot out some ppl are so inconsiderate I definitely couldn’t have that

Since Grenfell, local councils and fire brigade are all over this type of thing in flats - it’s a HUGE fire hazard. I would get the fire brigade to do a visit - see what they say and then write to your landlord, with photos, copying in the local council, relaying what fire brigade have said - you could also cc the fire brigade into the letter as well - create a paper trial - it’s the only way to force action - landlord and building owner have a legal duty to make sure the property is safe and abiding by health and safety regulations (which it’s not) and the council have responsibility for making sure landlords are fulfilling their obligations also. And the fire brigade can also make things difficult for them if they continue to do
nothing.

if it was any of the council blocks near me, they wouldn’t have a choice - the council come round once a month to inspect and they simply remove and dispose of anything left in hallways and stairwells (even doormats!) The risk is too great.

This is a great idea. Access ways blocked could be a huge issue in the event of an emergency.

Presumably as it is shared it is a lease property with a company that maintain it? If so, complain to them as it is indeed a fire and safety hazard. I am sure it will be in the rental/lease agreement that it can't be blocked like that and must be kept clear so it's their duty to sort it.

OP, I apologise if this has already been suggested but I would throw it all away in one fell swoop when she’s not home or sleeping.

Inevitably she might ask you about it but remain ignorant and say that the building owner must have dealt with it, after you spoke to your landlord about it. And never back down on this story.

Is she one of those people who think they are more important that people who rent because she owns? thinks she's more entitled to parking spaces or communal areas because, I don't know she thinks everyone doesn't pay the same amount of council tax or rates or something?
If so, tell her you both live there so can she be more considerate and if not, just start putting your own shoes up the stairs and all your crap outside.

Yeah, or this. This is even better

Report to the landlord and council. In my block we cannot leave anything outside our flats due to fire hazard risks. Anything left outside gets removed by the caretaker.

I have called the company today 😃

I think she thinks as they own and we rent they can do whatever the hell they want to do .

Love this idea. She is an idiot she out notices up once saying please turn of the hallway light funny thing was it was them leaving it in when they come home drunk they also were having a screaming match the other night woke my son up at 1130

They sound annoying.

They make me angry every day 🤣 we will be moving out by the start of the new school year so all should be well.