Communal bike storage - Compromise

agentcain

baza52 said:

just store them in you're own flat. Simple

I could but a) its hard to, b) no space and c) wouldn't that violate the same safety regulations?

davidmcn

agentcain said:

baza52 said:

just store them in you're own flat. Simple

I could but a) its hard to, b) no space and c) wouldn't that violate the same safety regulations?

No, I don't think the management company will be at all interested in how cluttered you make your own flat. Their obligations are about keeping the common areas safe from a fire safety point of view.

diggingdude

If you need bike storage why aren't you renting somewhere with bike storage? You are not in a long-term contract now so why not find somewhere else and move it would be less hassle for you

agentcain

Why would I go into the hassle of moving, especially now, because of the harassment I receive from one management company?
I continuously asked for the regulations they refer to, to no response. They are aware of the problem, yet they won't do anything other than charge the tenants for "storage"

Besides, when I rented the place, I came by bike, asked the letting agent where to park it while I look at the place, he told me to put it under the stairs, saw the other bikes there and I've been doing so ever since. 

NeilCr

Really you need to engage with your landlord on this issue. They will have a bit more clout with the freeholder.

When you say Management Company do you mean Managing Agent? Not being picky but Management Companies are often the ones that own the freehold of the estate and can well be owned and run by owners

Might be worth finding out if there is a Residents Management Company - if there is your landlord will have a share in it.

greatcrested

agentcain said:

Why would I go into the hassle of moving, especially now, because of the harassment I receive from one management company?
I continuously asked for the regulations they refer to, to no response. They are aware of the problem, yet they won't do anything other than charge the tenants for "storage"

Besides, when I rented the place, I came by bike, asked the letting agent where to park it while I look at the place, he told me to put it under the stairs, saw the other bikes there and I've been doing so ever since. 

You'd "go into the hassle of moving" because you want to live somewhere with facilities for bikes.

It's not harasment, it's (albeit rather pedantic) enforcement of rules.

You can easily look up H&S guidance for yourself. The leases, unfortunately, belong to the freeholder and leaseholders - as I advised earlier, speak to your landlord who owns the lease (probably).

They appear to be giving you plenty of warning, and plenty of time to take action.

The letting agent almost certainly had never seen the lease, and is not an expert in H&S. He would have seen the other bikes and jumped, perhaps rashly, to a conclusion.

agentcain

greatcrested said:

agentcain said:

Why would I go into the hassle of moving, especially now, because of the harassment I receive from one management company?
I continuously asked for the regulations they refer to, to no response. They are aware of the problem, yet they won't do anything other than charge the tenants for "storage"

Besides, when I rented the place, I came by bike, asked the letting agent where to park it while I look at the place, he told me to put it under the stairs, saw the other bikes there and I've been doing so ever since. 

You'd "go into the hassle of moving" because you want to live somewhere with facilities for bikes.

It's not harasment, it's (albeit rather pedantic) enforcement of rules.

You can easily look up H&S guidance for yourself. The leases, unfortunately, belong to the freeholder and leaseholders - as I advised earlier, speak to your landlord who owns the lease (probably).

They appear to be giving you plenty of warning, and plenty of time to take action.

The letting agent almost certainly had never seen the lease, and is not an expert in H&S. He would have seen the other bikes and jumped, perhaps rashly, to a conclusion.

Rules I agree yes, but rules I never saw when I signed the agreement and I find it a bit unfair to have to adhere to rules I didn't agree upon. It really boils down to how they interpret "fire" and "trip" hazard, because that's what they use as an excuse, not that items are not allowed in the communal areas. 

If the charge is £50, then why can't I charge them £100 for the inconvenience of having to retrieve the bike, terms that they accept upon removal of it from the premises? 
And how am I supposed to retrieve it, if they just come in and take whatever they want without leaving a note that "this item [photo] has been removed. Contact this person" What reason do I have to believe this was not theft for example?

agentcain

NeilCr said:

Really you need to engage with your landlord on this issue. They will have a bit more clout with the freeholder.

When you say Management Company do you mean Managing Agent? Not being picky but Management Companies are often the ones that own the freehold of the estate and can well be owned and run by owners

Might be worth finding out if there is a Residents Management Company - if there is your landlord will have a share in it.

The company is called Livewest and advertised as housing association. What is this considered to be?

NeilCr

agentcain said:

NeilCr said:

Really you need to engage with your landlord on this issue. They will have a bit more clout with the freeholder.

When you say Management Company do you mean Managing Agent? Not being picky but Management Companies are often the ones that own the freehold of the estate and can well be owned and run by owners

Might be worth finding out if there is a Residents Management Company - if there is your landlord will have a share in it.

The company is called Livewest and advertised as housing association. What is this considered to be?

It's a Housing Association.  

I assume you don't rent directly from them as you found your LL through Linked In.

I take it they are the Management Company you are referring to. If this is the case then I do still think your best bet would be to try your LL. They will have a direct relationship with LiveWest. To be honest I wouldn't hold out much hope. Think you need to find another solution

davidmcn

agentcain said:

greatcrested said:

agentcain said:

Why would I go into the hassle of moving, especially now, because of the harassment I receive from one management company?
I continuously asked for the regulations they refer to, to no response. They are aware of the problem, yet they won't do anything other than charge the tenants for "storage"

Besides, when I rented the place, I came by bike, asked the letting agent where to park it while I look at the place, he told me to put it under the stairs, saw the other bikes there and I've been doing so ever since. 

You'd "go into the hassle of moving" because you want to live somewhere with facilities for bikes.

It's not harasment, it's (albeit rather pedantic) enforcement of rules.

You can easily look up H&S guidance for yourself. The leases, unfortunately, belong to the freeholder and leaseholders - as I advised earlier, speak to your landlord who owns the lease (probably).

They appear to be giving you plenty of warning, and plenty of time to take action.

The letting agent almost certainly had never seen the lease, and is not an expert in H&S. He would have seen the other bikes and jumped, perhaps rashly, to a conclusion.

Rules I agree yes, but rules I never saw when I signed the agreement and I find it a bit unfair to have to adhere to rules I didn't agree upon.

Nobody else agreed to specific rules either, you're not being singled out.