Fire hazard dispute ...?private rental

ChocolateLover_3

I am in private rented flat on the ground floor next to the main and only lift.There is only my flat in this hallway so it only leads to my property .My son had a new bike last week and left it outside in the hall for 4 days.Then the block manager told me to remove the bike as it was a fire hazard and looked unsightly ,which I agree it was, so took the bike indoors.The only thing that bothers me is that there are 2 pushchairs left in the same hallway ,and have been there for many many months,which I consider to be a fire hazard also,when I told the manager that these should also be removed he said two wrongs dont make a right ..so it came accross on my part as tit-for -tat,even though it annoyed me that these buggies were left there for so long ,I know I should have mentioned this when they started leaving the pushchairs there ,even though the manager would have seen them as he is around most days .I think there should be one rule for all tenants not just one ,he just thinks I am being nasty now ,but the buggies ARE a fire hazard what should I do ?

poppysarah

You could ask the local fire safety officer what he thinks.
Usually nothing is allowed to be kept in communal hallways as it's all a trip or fire hazard.


The ultimate test of them being a fire hazard would be to set fire to them and see if it stopped you getting out. But I don't recommend that.

Someone could if they were very mean accidentally either remove the pushchairs, tip something over them or chain them together. I don't really recommend that either though. Tell the manager you'd like the hallways clear of hazards.

princeofpounds

Grow a tough skin, ignore what he thinks of you personally (it really doesn't matter, he isn't the boss of the flat just an employee of the freeholder) and state politely that you only started leaving your bike outside because you saw the buggies there. Point out that you were very happy to remove the bike when corrected, that he was totally right on that score, but that there should be one rule for everyone and that the pushchairs should also be moved.

Any idea why he is favouring them?

brightonman123

perhaps the prams etc are for his kids? nothng should really be left in hallways, whatever status the building has.

clutton_2

if you are the only occupant of the ground floor - are the pushchairs between you and the front door ? if not they there is no risk to you ..... others upstairs who own the pushchairs are increasing their own risk by blocking their exit route ...

LTJ

As a former Health and Safety manager, the rules state that nothing should be kept or stored blocking any fire escape routes.

If this is an escape route, Imagine if there was a fire at night the lights go out and the emergency lights fail, you do not want to be tripping over bikes and prams or any other items for that matter that are blocking the fire escape route.

I would as above have said call the local fire brigade and inform them about the prams.

clutton_2

why not just go back and talk to the concierge/manager ....

ChocolateLover_3

Thanks for the replies
What I dont understand is his reply of two wrongs dont make a right ? whats that all about ?
The buggies are left almost in front of my front door and near the lift ,so the only fire hazard would be to me and my family as we walk past daily ,eveyone else would come down the main stairs which is away from my hall...

tbs624

Ask the manager for a copy of the risk assessment which he is required to have completed under the RRO Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

They have to have in place "appropriate measures to ensure that the means of escape can be safely and effectively used *at all times* " , not just at night.

You could write to the Manager thanking him for alerting you to the danger of you leaving your bike in the entrance. Then say that now you're aware of the requirements under RRO you're formally asking him to make the same arrangements for the pushchairs. If you have put your request to him in writing (keep a copy) then he'd be foolish if he failed to act.

As others have said , if necessary, talk to the local fire safety officer.

Fire_Fox

ChocolateLover wrote: »

Thanks for the replies
What I dont understand is his reply of two wrongs dont make a right ? whats that all about ?
The buggies are left almost in front of my front door and near the lift ,so the only fire hazard would be to me and my family as we walk past daily ,eveyone else would come down the main stairs which is away from my hall...

You say there are no other flats on your corridor? So whose are these buggies? Just move them yourself, either in front of the owners front door or the block managers office (if there is such a thing) or into the communal foyer. If they reappear move them again, they will get the message eventually.

blckbrd

ChocolateLover wrote: »

Thanks for the replies
What I dont understand is his reply of two wrongs dont make a right ? whats that all about ?
The buggies are left almost in front of my front door and near the lift ,so the only fire hazard would be to me and my family as we walk past daily ,eveyone else would come down the main stairs which is away from my hall...

The chap was telling you that just because someone else does the wrong thing it doesn't mean you can too. Some people rely on the efficacy of management by sarcasm.

Write to the officer's manager thanking him for the vigilance of his staff. Suggest that you thought the rules had been relaxed because the buggies had been there for x period of time. Now that you understand otherwise, could arrangements be made for all residents to be reminded about the H & S issues surrounding leaving things in the corridors and could you have a timescale for the buggies' removal.

People can be funny about someone 'touching their stuff' and if your neighbours aren't formally reminded they may just put the buggies right back where they were or take issue with you as you would be the most likely person to have moved them.

It all depends on how much energy you want to expend on this and if you can get over the feeling of being a little hard done by. Don't let the jobsworths grind you down