Suspected case at my DMs housing complex for the over 50's, coughing all over the communal garden. Am I being unreasonable?

[Roostersmum2]

My DM lives in a housing complex for older people, all of the residents flats are inside one main building and there is a medium sized communal garden for everybodies use.

One of mum's neighbours is a suspected covid case who remains untested, today he was in the communal garden sitting at the patio furniture outside mum's window coughing uncontrollably.

I do not begrudge the man fresh air and I genuinely hope he's going to be ok but I'm a bit concerned about this because of the other residents, and obviously my mum.

Should he be using that outdoor space when he needs to be in quarantine? The majority of residents are in their 70's and while it's awful that any of them have this at all, surely they need to be taking precautions to ensure it doesn't spread throughout the entire building?

I don't think you're being unreasonable to be fearful your mum will get ill or to expect that he should be self isolating as anyone else with symptoms should be. Be shouldn't be outside his flat. Are there carers? A warden? That you could speak to? Can your mum isolate herself for the time being. X

No, if he’s got symptoms he should be staying indoors. I suppose the problem is the guidance says “you can use your garden if you have one” and he can argue that he does.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/what-to-do-if-you-or-someone-you-live-with-has-coronavirus-symptoms/staying-at-home-if-you-or-someone-you-live-with-has-coronavirus-symptoms/

There's a warden for the building I could speak to yes, I just wasnt sure whether I was being unreasonable. Thanks!

She has taken it upon herself to avoid the garden completely now and gets her exercise elsewhere. I'm sure there are more than a few residents who do continue to use the garden though and probably don't know about his status, its a big building and not everybody knows and speaks to one another.

tell her to be very careful coming in and out the building, even of her own front door, to wash her hands, maybe carry a large tissue/ kitchen towel paper with which to open the main door, then discard it.
many people are not aware of what they are doing, or the possible implications for others' health.
does she have a window facing away from the garden that she can open, and try to exercise indoors. better safe than sorry.
good luck.

I work in housing and we've removed all the communal seating. You could suggest that.

I work in housing and we've removed all the communal seating. You could suggest that.

I agree with the OP that the person should not be using the communal garden but removing garden seating for everyone else is spiteful and possibly you/the housing breaking the tenancy agreement

removing garden seating for everyone else is spiteful

And that's why we did it. We just love fucking with people. Not to keep people safe at all.

And that's why we did it. We just love fucking with people. Not to keep people safe at all.

Quite the jailers eh. I can imagine

Do you have a garden? How would you like some jobsworth blocking that off right now

Do you seriously think it will work? People will just sit on the ground. What will you do then. Evict them?

What do you do so I can have a go?

*Quite the jailers eh. I can imagine

Do you have a garden? How would you like some jobsworth blocking that off right now

Do you seriously think it will work? People will just sit on the ground. What will you do then. Evict them?*

Jailers, Really? All public seating by me is fencing/taped so what’s the difference?
Of course they won’t sit on the floor!

Yes remove it

Jailers, Really? All public seating by me is fencing/taped so what’s the difference?
Of course they won’t sit on the floor!

It isn't public seating. Its someones garden.

Where else can they sit in their own garden?

What do you do so I can have a go?

Power crazed

God yes I got into social housing for the power. Bwahahahaha.

Not to keep people safe at all.

Tenants of high rise blocks, safe?
Dont even go there

Huh?

I'm confused by most recent posts. Surely we're not mocking very real risk facing older or elderly people living in care homes or supported accommodation? Have you not seen the U.K. news or news from across Euro continent?

Your mother is right to exercise elsewhere. And that man is a selfish pig who should not be outside at all. He should be self isolating indoors and getting deliveries of food and medicine to his door. Are there no organisations that can help him out? Surely the warden can do something for him? No wonder the virus is rampant in nursing homes etc.

I'm confused by most recent posts. Surely we're not mocking very real risk facing older or elderly people living in care homes or supported accommodation

The OP is not necessarily talking about elderly people in care homes or supported accommodation.

Many council housing is blocks of flats or similar but is only available to people over a certain age. 30 or 50 for example. These blocks have communal gardens. Not open to the public. The tenant pays for the garden as well as the flat

A previous poster is saying that the housing association/council she works for have put tape over the communal garden area. My point is that these gardens belong to the tenants and that it isnt fair. She also mentioned safety but that's a bit of a poor subject to bring up with someone who might be a tenant of a high rise block. Who don't have such short memories

I agree with the OP though that the tenant coughing with suspected covid should not be in the garden, he should be in his flat, but I don't think it's fair that other tenants cant use their own garden

She also mentioned safety but that's a bit of a poor subject to bring up with someone who might be a tenant of a high rise block.

I manage nothing with cladding, nothing over seven floors and do care about safety. But because someone (who, you or OP?) might be a tenant in a high rise, I can't mention safety in any context? Double huh?

I manage nothing with cladding, nothing over seven floors and do care about safety. But because someone (who, you or OP?) might be a tenant in a high rise, I can't mention safety in any context? Double huh?

Council housing is not safe. We all know this. It's done on the cheap, but that's not my point.

You work for a landlord who has put tape all over peoples own rented garden furniture. People who probably dont have much in life and probably many who dont have a car or are not very mobile physically.

We see all these threads about 'the poor people in high rise blocks' but the landlords are shutting them up even more

Why has your landlord done this to peoples gardens? Why are you recommending it? When you know full well the tenants dont want it. Have you put eviction notice threats up if they don't comply? I bet you have

Have you put eviction notice threats up if they don't comply? I bet you have

Well you can respond like that MrsTerry- landlord- Pratchett, but that's exactly what's happened in my brothers block. Big signs everywhere threatening tenants with eviction if they don't comply with staying in and not using their own garden. Probably signed by people with huge gardens

What will you do when the tenants remove the tape or start sitting on the ground in their own garden?

This is what makes me laugh. They think the tenants don't read their own tenancy agreements.

We write a letter saying that we strongly suggest it but that we don't enforce or take action against tenancies. Plus a whole lot of suggestions for mental health, places that have food for people, telling them to call us for help if they've lost their jobs or aren't coping. It's going out tomorrow. We are right cunts. Oh and resources for children. Utter bastards. I was also delivering food parcels I managed to acquire last week. I will be first against the wall.

The only person who gets even a snotty letter told me she had it and decided to refuse to maintain distance from one of the staff today. Even she doesn't get evicted.

Not all housing providers are the same.

@Flaxmeadow the only person coming across as spiteful on here is you.

OP you are perfectly right to be concerned and I would certainly raise the issue with the warden and/or the managers if the complex. That man should be socially isolating.