Block Management Company

3dsmills

Evening All,

I have just come home to be irritated by a letter from our block management company.

We have been living in a block of 6 flats (owned and privately rented) for the past 2 1/2 years.


Re: Items stored in Electricity Cupboards and Communal Hallways

On a recent site visit I noted that all the electricity cupboards had various items stored in them and was horrified to see that someone was storing petrol in a plastic canister in the cupboard on the ground floor, which is a serious fire hazard.

Please note that the electricity cupboards are not for residents to store items in, therefore, you have until Sunday 23rd November 2008 to remove you items from all the electricity cupboards thereafter any items found in these cupboards will be disposed of without any further notification.

Residents should also note to comply with Health & Safety legislation entrance hallways and stairwells are sterile areas and therefore no items can be left or stored in them and after Sunday 23rd November any items found in any internal communal area will be disposed of without any further notification.


Now i am sure they are in their rights to do this but they still pee me off.

Firstly when this company showed us round 2 1/2 years ago we were told we could use the cupboards for storage.

What if we had been on holiday, come home to find our mountain bikes had been 'disposed of'? If fact, the guy upstairs IS on holiday!

One of the items is a small collapsable buggy which belongs to a lady upstairs, not sure how she's gonig to manage carrying 2 young children, her shopping and the buggy upstairs.

The petrol can was emptied (down the drain? into their car?) then left outside, they didnt think to knock on anyones door...


So, anything we can do or do we just suck it up and move our bikes and barbeque into the spare room?

Thanks in anticipation

sooz

Bah- lost my message.

They ARE following H&S rules for communal areas. Atleast they are doing their job & inspecting!

I too would be horrified that someone was keeping petrol on the premises, and even worse, next to an electricity meter.

It's a little harsh of them to say they would dispose of bikes & buggies. How about as a block you all write back, & ask them to provide alternative storage for such items (particularly as they said previously that these areas could be used for storage)?

Is there a garden or yard where a store could be built for such things. Communal coridoors do have to be kept clear, & meter cupboards need to be locked. As for the buggy, if it is a very small folding one, one solution is to put a hook on the wall for it (with permission). As long as it's high up & off the floor, then the corridor is clear.

Doozergirl

You really should keep the hallways clear. If it's pitch black and you're desperate to get out away from smoke etc, you'll understand why.

As for keeping things inside the cupboards, I don't really see the harm (if it's not petrol!!). I'd move the stuff out and put it back when they've gone.

Obviously you're not supposed to but sometimes management agents could use a bit of common sense. As a freeholder myself, it's not something I'd personally mind, or even care about.

Incisor

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Stiff letter, acknowledge legitimate concern about petrol and stake out your rights and what you were told by this company, presumably before your contract.

Ulfar

Sorry but I am going to side with the management agency on this one.

They have to abide by the law, the items being stored in the electricity cupboard are a fire, health and safety risk.

If the items aren't removed the fire and third liability insurances are void.

If someone is then injured you as leaseholders will be directly responsible and can be sued. It also will contravene your leasehold.


Moving the items may be inconvenient to not use the cupboard, being sued for a million pounds is worse and dying in a fire is not even to be considered.

sooz

Doozergirl wrote: »

You really should keep the hallways clear. If it's pitch black and you're desperate to get out away from smoke etc, you'll understand why.

As for keeping things inside the cupboards, I don't really see the harm (if it's not petrol!!). I'd move the stuff out and put it back when they've gone.

Obviously you're not supposed to but sometimes management agents could use a bit of common sense. As a freeholder myself, it's not something I'd personally mind, or even care about.

With the mix of rental and owner occupation, it could be that the building is now an HMO. In which case 2 years ago it might have been ok to store non flammable items in the cupboards, but now these have to be locked & need a sign on them to tell people that they are a) locked and b) emtpy and c) contain electrics and d) electrics are bad and may kill you and e) don't forget to wash your hands

3dsmills

Thanks for your responses guys,

I knew the rules about the hallway etc and i understand that and it's fine.

What annoys me is that we were told we could use this as storage, i have been through our contact and inventory and it actually list specific items contained in each of the cupboards belonging to our flat (items belonging to previous tennant and neighbours) and says they must still be there when we leave!!

So if the rules have changed, surely they should really have notified us to clear the cupboards out when the new law came into place, especially knowing there were items in there.

Instead, we receive a letter on a Friday night telling us we have 1 day to sort it. :mad:

Sooner we buy a house the better!!