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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WWYD? Neighbour leaving rubbish bags in corridor...

9 replies

messydownstairs · 16/05/2024 18:32

There's a lady living downstairs (I'll call her M), who appears to be physically and mentally quite unwell. She leaves lots of binbags in the corridor, daily - I'm talking 5 or 6 bags full of rubbish, in a narrow corridor which is right by the entrance to the building. One of the other neighbours tends to take them out for her but they are frequently there for hours, including overnight. The bags contain things that aren't very pleasant, including bandage dressings and food waste.

We have recently had a fire risk assessment done, and these bags were identified as a hazard, because they could impede a quick exit.

We have explained this to M and asked if she could leave the bags inside her flat for the neighbour to collect when he is going out. She has refused to do this because it's not hygienic apparently (although she's clearly not concerned about the hygiene in the common parts). She is continuing to leave them dumped outside her door, in the way of everyone else instead.

She is a very difficult and tbh pretty unpleasant character. I appreciate she is unwell but I don't think mental illness is an excuse for rudeness to the extent that she displays it. We have had other issues with her, including cockroaches in her flat which we had to treat when she was in hospital as she didn't want to allow access in case she picked up germs from them (but cockroaches are fine?!) and Japanese knotweed in her garden. It has been a nightmare dealing with her and there hasn't been a word of thanks.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to deal with the bin bag issue, or has anyone been in this situation before? We have contacted environmental health, who have said they can't do anything as it's a private matter. She is an owner occupier, so no landlord to contact. We are one of the freeholders as well as a leaseholder.

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Ginmonkeyagain · 16/05/2024 18:37

Pay someone to remove them and charge her?

That is what we do in our block if people leave stuff in the corridors.

If you want to get hardcore you could serve a breach of lease notice as I bet there are clauses about not leaving personal items in the common parts.

TwelveAngryWhiskers · 16/05/2024 18:38

Perhaps contact your local fire station and ask if they will speak to her. If a fire started they could go up in flames and prevent your escape as well as spread the fire further.

Sorry you’re having to deal with this, it sounds awful.

thanKyouaIMee · 16/05/2024 18:39

I mean it's terribly unpleasant to do, but could the bags be put all up against the door so she can't exit without moving them? If they become as inconvenient to her as they are to everyone else perhaps she'll rethink?

It sounds tough, is there any way it's against any of the freehold / leasehold rules? Could there be anyway to go down a legal route? Not sure if that's a hammer for an egg or not!

BlueGrackle · 16/05/2024 18:42

Does she have any family or carers visiting that could take the bags out for her. I’m assuming if she’s leaving them there she doesn’t have the mobility to move them outside.
Could you ask them to speak to her, or move them when they visit.

qwertyqwertyqwertyqwerty · 16/05/2024 18:43

I appreciate she is unwell but I don't think mental illness is an excuse for rudeness to the extent that she displays it. It's likely to the reason. No one is asking you to 'excuse' it, but this person sounds like they have some serious MH issues, so just try to deal with it rather than expecting her to magically get well.

I'd put the bin bags out if concerned about fire.

You may be able to enforce your rights but I'd probably look to move.

Pootles34 · 16/05/2024 18:46

So I know you shouldn't have to, but I'd probably just put the bags in the bins for her. She can't do it, they're annoying you by being there, you could faff around with social services and solicitors letters but it'd be quicker to just put them out?

messydownstairs · 16/05/2024 19:28

Thanks all.

I'd be really concerned about taking the bags out myself. What if there's a fire before I see them and take them out? I'm a bit worried I'd eventually assume some sort of responsibility for taking them out, IYSWIM, and practically it will be nigh on impossible for me to carry 5 or 6 bags of rubbish when I also have 2 small children I am trying to get out the door.

I think the fire service might be a good shout, but I don't have her phone number. I could ask them to visit I guess, or for the person who conducted the assessment to write to her, explaining how serious it is?

It is definitely against the terms of her lease, which require her to keep the common parts clean and tidy, but I have no idea how I would go about enforcing them. I'm not sure I have the stomach for a court case and it feels disproportionate but I guess if we have no choice, that's where it will have to end up. I can't run the risk of people being unable to get out of a building quickly enough in the event of a fire.

She is also in arrears with her service charge, and is paying it off £50 a month...

Does anyone know any more about enforcing a breach of lease term if we end up in that position?

OP posts:
Goldengirl123 · 16/05/2024 19:31

why us only one neighbour helping her? Couldn’t you all just take the bags to the bin if any are there when you go last?

TTCaxristi · 16/05/2024 22:30

This sounds so tough. I don’t see why you should take her bags out, it’s not a long term solution. I don’t have suggestions but am hoping someone else may.

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