Neighbour blocking access to flat.

BehindTheBarricades

Hello. Hope I've got this in the right place. I'm new to the forum, although I've lurked occasionally. Would somebody be able to help me with some advice, please?


I own a flat at the rear of a row of blocks of flats. Everyone else in the blocks can access their flat through the front doors. The only access to my flat and the shared garden is through a covered area which belongs to the next door block. Neighbours in both blocks use this as a storage area. Mostly, this is fine but some people keep blocking this area with junk. They don't care because it's not their home they're stopping access to.

One neighbour in my block in particular completely takes the P. She has been working away for a while, but returned this evening and has left so much stuff there that there is only just enough room to squeeze past. I cannot get my bike out and there is no room for deliveries to come in. I have dropped her an email asking if she does intend to move the junk but what, legally, can I do?

rustybucket

Pop round and have a 'nice' word, email is a bit impersonal isn't it?

BehindTheBarricades

I have spoken to her before in person. It's fine for a while and then she does it again. She just doesn't seem to have any concept of where her space ends and where everyone else's begins. Her immediate neighbour on her floor took her to task for filling their hallway full of old washing machine drums.

On edit: I dropped her an email tonight because she dumped the junk there this afternoon and appears to have gone out.

melancholly

make room for your bike by putting all the junk so that it blocks her door?! (i realise that will inflame the situation but i'd be sorely tempted!)

mikey72

Wait until a very wet night, then move it all into the open?

BehindTheBarricades

Don't tempt!

Trouble is, the junk would then be out on the street and at risk of theft or rain damage. Isn't that criminal damage?

BehindTheBarricades

Thanks for the repsonses so far, by the way.

freezspirit

I don't know if the fire service still do this but when my parents had the smoke alarm installed by them they also did a risk assessment of the inside and outside the premises. Should say my bedroom was condemn and a high risk as there was no clear route from bed to door. This was over 10 years ago so may of changed.

Its just I'm wondering if blocking your only access could be seen as a potential danger to life. Is there no signs to say keep passage/area clear? Is the block managed by any maintenance company?

BehindTheBarricades

The fire service is a good idea, although I wouldn't want to inconvenience the people who show more consideration when leaving stuff there.

There aren't any signs, but she is well aware it's my only way in and out. I have spoken to our maintenance company but because that area belongs to next door and we only, strictly speaking, have right of way, our maintenance company weren't able to act. The freeholders for next door are the council. If I wrote to them, would they be likely to do anything?

bordercars

def the fire brigade, she , and all others are blocking your escape route.

BehindTheBarricades

Thanks once again for the reponses.

How should I contact the fire service if I go down this route? Is there any way of enforcing the verdict if they say the junk has to go?