Property - health and safety

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I rent a first floor flat in a converted house where there is also only a ground floor flat. An elderly lady owns that flat and the landing outside my door belongs to her property too. Basically my landlord just owns the flat I live in from the flat door, there is no communal area.

The neighbour keeps her walking frame outside my door, on the landing, which she doesn't use (she told me that plus I've never seen the thing moved and I'm in and out a lot as I work from here). 12 months ago we had a conversation about the frame as I thought it was a health and safety hazard as when I open my door and come out, there is a space of about 40 cm and then there is the frame. The landing outside my door is also taken up by the meters cupboard and her flat door is opposite the front door, the distance is maybe a meter. So whenever I come in and out I bump into the frame (not too mention the times when I have my shopping with me). Back then she said she was willing to take it in, but in the end I told her not to worry and that I don't mind, it being there (she's 80-something so I thought if it was more convenient for her, then be it, etc).

Now I knocked on her door, to let her now that I will be having a baby in 2 weeks and whether she could put her frame inside as I simply won't be able to wheel the pram out of my door to come out. I thought, in the light of the previous conversation, that my request was quite sensible. Before I finished speaking, I was told it's not her fault I'm pregnant ! and if I am pregnant I should not be living here. She said she won't move it and do I dare telling her what to do with her property. The old bat made my cry and finally I told her the frame just has to go.

So the question is: is it health and safety hazard and even though it's her property, can she be asked to remove the frame? When I want to wheel the pram out, I will have to pick her frame, move it outside the front door, wheel the pram outside and then put the frame back in. I even offered to put it in my loft but now apparently she uses the frame after the exercise (as I said, the frame is always there so that's not true but I guess it is beside the point). I will be calling my estate agent and the council on Monday but would appreciate any advice you might be able to give me in the meantime.

You should have a Right of Way to access your front door.
One option for you is to request a Fire Service Inspection of the Property.

Someone must be responsible for the landing and any stairs/communal entrance/outside land for the property, your landlord or the estate agent will be able to tell you who this is. You should raise this with them. It is worth pointing out that they have a statutory duty to ensure your safety in these areas of the property. By reporting the hazard (as well as inconvenience)that this frame is causing you are putting them on notice and it is at their peril if they then leave it unattended to. Put your complaint in writing and keep a copy or if you have to do it by phone, keep a note of when and whom you spoke to. WV's comment about the fire service is an excellent suggestion too, they will have a field day if something is resricting your escape from the property in the event of a a fire. Hopefully you will get this problem sorted before your bundle of joy arrives. Good luck with both and NO-ONE should ever make a heavily pregnant lady cry!!

ask the fire station to come round and do a fire safety check. it's free and quick and easy.

call local fire station number to set it up. they will advise on fire safety. and fit you a fre smoke alarm . and hopefully speak to the old lady too.

could the frame be put on a bicycle type rack which hoists it up out of the way?

Thank you for your responses! I thought no one was going to answer . The thing is my neighbour is responsible for all the ground floor areas, as it's the way the property was divided when it was turned into flats. Also I used the term 'landing' wrongly, it's rather a 'hallway' outside our flats' door, which are next to each other (when I open my door, there are the stairs that take me to my flat).

Since my first OP, she left a note she's willing to seek a compromise so we'll see what happens. If it doesn't work out, I will definitely speak to the fire service.