Neighbour blocking access to flat.

mishkanorman

STOCKWIRE wrote: »

No Lives are in danger Now, not only that of the op but every other resident in that block of flats. Think of the resources that would be called in to play if there Was a fire, not only then but afterwards.

Its STILL not an emergency, potential for one doesnt warrant dialing 999.

lawrie28

I would put a letter through the doors of everyone in the flats saying that the landlord has been contacted and a house clearance specialist has been arranged for Friday and any items that are still in the alleyway on this day will be removed and disposed by the house clearance company.

Plenty of time for people to shift stuff, but a stark warning of what will happen to the stuff if it doesn't.

Of course, calling the landlord and getting them to actually do this would work just as well.

I am sure that the landlord has to act on this, health and safety, access to property etc. so would be supportive as a quick and effective way to solve this.

Even better if they did it!

You could then put a sign up saying no storage, or even better, with paint on the floor, mark out a fair square of the floor for each flat that means people can put stuff in the alley, but not overcrowd it. A 1m x 50cm space or whatever fits.

It it ain't in a square, it goes in the bin!

Leif

Alternatively, make sure something such as a cat urinates on the selfish neighbours items, whilst avoiding other items. Make sure this 'cat' does its business when no-one is around, and don't get caught, sorry I mean make sure the cat does not get caught.

The problem with the above is that the neighbour might take it out on you, as the prime suspect, which might escalate matters. But if a group of people acted together, sorry I mean if a group of cats happened to take it in turns to urinate on the items ... Quite how you encourage cats to behave like this is beyond me though ...

But if some cats were to do this, they'd better be discrete regarding who they talk to about their plans, sorry I mean "miaow to". Cough cough.

I do not endorse or encourage damage to someone else's property. Oooh no sirreee ...

markdavey

I have just read this thread from start to end and, given it was started on 23/7/2011, if the OP has not taken the advice re: fire brigade, council etc. I would suggest that there is just no helping them.

OP, grow a pair and get onto people that can actually do something practical to help rather than replying on this thread and trying to find ways to make it more palatable for your neighbours, you are putting your own lives at risk...

Valli

at least the OP now KNOWS that no-one thinks her objection to this heap of junk is unreasonable.

BehindTheBarricades

I was fairly sure I was being reasonable, but you do start to wonder sometimes when these people who take liberties are so very convinced that the liberties are theirs to take.

Sorry, I'm in the office today, hence a lack of response so far. Thank you for all the replies and even for the tellings off.

I can appreciate why people might be thinking that I'm docile and should grow a pair, but I've lived here a long time now and many of the neighbours I do have are good neighbours. We co-exist happily and do things for each other. I don't want to be a bad neighbour to all of them just because a couple of people, and one person in particular, doesn't understand what being a good neighbour is.

I don't think I'm going to phone the emergency services either. Rewarding her bad behaviour with hunky firemen just sounds like encouragement to me.

Rest assured I do intend to get the situation sorted out one way or another, though. Currently, I can get in and out of my flat, with bike, after helping/forcing The Clutter Horror (I like that nickname) to move some stuff on Sunday, so the most urgent problem has been temporarily sorted.

I've changed my thoughts around the clear out idea as you all seemed to think it doubtful. I have obtained the details of the local fire-service and have filled in the form to request an assessment. I'm going to try to arrange any visit for a few weeks away. This still allows me to set up the "bin, clear and beer" afternoon to give everyone a chance to get rid of enough stuff that the fire service will be happy. But it also sets a clear deadline and consequences, ie: they lose ALL their storage and potentially their posesssions, if nobody can be bothered.

Love the 'cat' pee suggestion, but there's really no need to make any effort around that. The stuff will almost certainly get genuine, 24 carat, stinky cat pee on it, not just old inverted comma 'cat' pee. She didn't seem too bothered when I pointed this out to her which makes me somewhat sceptical about her claims that any of the junk is bound for her flat.

paddy's_mum

BehindTheBarricades wrote: »

I don't think I'm going to phone the emergency services either. Rewarding her bad behaviour with hunky firemen just sounds like encouragement to me

so the most urgent problem has been temporarily sorted.

You're not going to like this but I'm going to say it anyway.

Reward. Reward? Why can't you, and your neighbours who have been way too pliant and afraid of making a fuss for far too long see that you ought to be rewarding yourselves with SAFETY? Do you want to die a miserable, perhaps lingering, death from burns or smoke inhalation of toxic fumes so long as you don't offend anyone?

Is there some right given by the gods to the contemptible hoarder that prevents you from taking logical steps to protect yourself, your neighbours as well as the screw-loose squirrel?

I'd bet money that your local Fire Authority would many times over rather have a not-really-desperate 999 call and enforce common sense than have even one genuine distess call and arrive far, far too late.

Erm - what's this 'temporary' when it's at home? Does this mean that you'll have to fight this same battle (which threatens the safety of you all) over and over and over again?

In short, stop with the nice guy and look after number 1 'cos no boogger else is going to do it for you!

melancholly

paddy's_mum wrote: »

You're not going to like this but I'm going to say it anyway.

Reward. Reward? Why can't you, and your neighbours who have been way too pliant and afraid of making a fuss for far too long see that you ought to be rewarding yourselves with SAFETY? Do you want to die a miserable, perhaps lingering, death from burns or smoke inhalation of toxic fumes so long as you don't offend anyone?

i think it was a tongue in cheek comment! ringing 999 over this was never going to be a solution..... and it does sound like the OP is working towards a solution that fixes the problem without having a direct conflict, which seems the best possible outcome all round.

Leif

I agree that dialling 999 would waste the emergency services time, as it is not an emergency. Just ring the local fire station for advice. These days they like to be pro-active, and not simply respond when it is too late.

bordercars

so it's now August what has happened.