Advice on shared hallway, and using it for storage..

[londongirl158]

Hey all,

So I am at a bit of a loss as to what to say here because I do not know whether I am just being really unreasonable or whether it is my neighbour. I live in a victoria terrace house, with three flats. I own one, the other freeholder owns the other two, one is rented out, where the tenants have recently just moved in (I have yet to meet them).

I have now VERY politely asked three times, maybe more, if the hallways can be kept clear, to which I have always had a very apologetic sorry, we will move, then it is moved, and then within a couple of days, the stuff is returned. For example, there is a huge painting leaning outside my door at the moment... I am just not sure how to go about approaching this, because it is now causing me quite a lot of anxiety, I don't even want to leave my flat at the moment (I know this sounds extreme, but I have also had some kind of anxiety, and unfortunately my mother not that long ago passed away) so I know I am probably blowing it out of proportion, but unfortunately it just seems another thing, when I think I have been quite polite about it, feels like quite frankly they are taking the p*.

Thanks in advance! :)

Give the fire brigade a ring and ask them to send someone round to do an inspection and Have A Word - they’re causing an obstruction in a fire escape, it should be clear at all times.

Is this stuff connected to them moving in, doing up the flat etc, or is it stuff they would just want to keep there? I'm a bit confused. Bikes and push chairs are more often kept in hallways, not paintings!

I'm not sure what it is for to be honest, before it was a chair! Now it's a painting.. if I am honest, I think I'd be a bit more considerate if I had just moved in somewhere but they seem very pally with downstairs so maybe they are friends

How long is each thing being kept there? Are we talking overnight, a few days, a few weeks?

Who manages the block? Storing stuff in hallways is a complete no no as it’s a fire risk.

Pick it up and put across their doorway. Repeatedly if needs be.

I think I’d wait for another week or so without saying anything else. It does sound like they’re still in the process of moving in and this might be a temporary nuisance.

First thing that came to mind is 'fire risk' and I'm not saying that to scare or worry you.

As PP have said - contact the fire brigade and get advice

On the ground floor it's been there for about 4 months now, the new tenants have left stuff there the entire time since they have moved in. I just think they are following the landlords leaving all their rubbish on the ground floor.

Myself and the ground floor share the freehold, so we manage the building which is why I messaged them first, but since her apologetic message it's all reappeared!

Agree with PPs - this is a fire risk issue

Have they just moved in or is it 4 months? Is the stuff being left by different people?

Two different flats are leaving stuff, ground floor flat it's been about four months, new tenants has been since they moved in.. sorry that wasn't clear

If you manage it then I’m afraid it’s down to you to enforce no storage in hallways.

I found these links which should help you:

arma.org.uk/downloader/ty9/ARMA_Fire_Safety_Management_in_Flats.pdf

www.lease-advice.org/faq/whose-responsibility-carry-fire-risk-assessment/

www.local.gov.uk/publications/fire-safety-purpose-built-flats

You have said you’re suffering from anxiety and I sympathise but this isn’t something you can bury your head in the sand over.

I think there are agencies you can hire who will do fire and health risk assessments and even come in regularly to remove and destroy property left in the hallways. Have a chat with a local estate agent that specialises in lettings and they might be able to recommend a few local names to you.

Some things are OK; a bike (one per flat though, not loads) near the flat itself, a door mat with a few shoes on. My DS CM did this (they are Muslim and never wear shoes inside, and it was one pair per adult).
Storing stuff that should be IN the flat, no.

Thank you so much for these links, that's really helpful! X

Look at your lease or whatever. Items kept in any shared area is NOT usually allowed due to being a possible hazard and fire risk.

Our son has this problem at his apartment. He's on the second floor but also owns a large storage cupboard under the stairs on the ground floor, where he keeps his bike. Unfortunately other tenants store their bikes along the hallway which not only prevents him from getting his bike out of the cupboard, but also from getting it past the other bikes to outside!!! Nothing should be stored there but the rule gets ignored. Grrrr......

I had this...although it was.mulriple fucking bikes

I would just put a post it on the painting saying

"HI!
Just wanted to let you.know the hallway needs to be kept clear at all times. It's a legal requirement
Please can you remove this asap.
Thanks in advance,
Londongirl"

Whoops!
The above note should have included words "... as it is a fire hazard and and so a health and safety requirement" !!!

How about a sign saying “any items not removed from from the hallway by x date will be removed due to fire safety regulations” and then put anything left outside by the bins

Do people really run and bother the emergency services before trying to sort things out in a grown up way?

Usually (IME, not an expert in all situations) the fire escape requirement is a 6’ wide clear exit route.

Look at the lease, then send a polite but firm letter to the freeholder, Cc the tenants.

But it does sound a bit as if your anxiety is affecting this and I think it is fair enough to give people a bit of leeway when they are moving, as long as you can easily get in and out.

It's not just about room to escape though. Strangers set a sofa (that had been left out) on fire in db's stairwell once. That certainly bothered the emergency services as they had to evacuate the building and put the fire out.

My apartment is managed by a management company. If it helps, I left a folded mini umbrella to dry on the doormat (my door is behind the main door so no danger of tripping over them) and got a phone call within an hour asking they were moved
So you can be fairly harsh on keeping it clear!

The problem is, when you start allowing some leeway with stuff like this, people take the piss.

In my old block of flats, the management company initially tried to be lenient, but it got ridiculous - people left prams, bikes, furniture, even bloody white goods in the hallways claiming they didn’t have room in their flats. In the end, we had to implement a zero tolerance policy. If it was in the hallway, it was removed, kept for 30 days then disposed of. If people wanted their stuff back, they had to pay a fee. It was amazing how quickly everyone found room for their shit inside their own flats after that.

I realise that the OP is in a slightly different situation, but my suggestion is for her to get an assessment done, then write to all residents saying that nothing can be stored in the hallway. I don’t know how she would go about enforcing that unless she’s willing to do it herself though. But she does need to get cooperation from ALL owners to avoid being undermined.

It's a bit tricky if the freehold and management is shared between just you and the neighbour as it is going to feel personal and damage your relationship, and if you have to resort to taking legal measures, you will have to declare it when you sell. I would try to sort it out amicably and informally first by showing her the laws about fire safety in communal areas.

The "management company" (ie you and the neighbour who leaves things there ) should remove them to comply with the law. The correct procedure for removing the items is here:
jcfpropertymanagement.com/serving-tort-notice/