Dealing with my housing association

potentialhousebuyer

Thanks everyone, I will see what my housing officer says on Monday. 

HampshireH

What is it you actually want your HA to do. Realistically.

Because they can send a letter and ask the person but they aren't going to evict them for this.

So complaining to the HA is right but it in't going to go very far. A weekly cleaner for a block of 4 flats is more then reasonable. Ordinarily i wouldn't expect communals in a block of 4 flats to need to be cleaned more than once a month.

Is the weekly clean as a result of a previous complaint or is that your HAs normal schedule.

You have a really inconsiderate neighbour but inconsiderate people don't change unless something impacts them 

marcia_

Personally I would just shrug it off and get out there with a mop. 

 Not the neighbours fault they do a messy job and the housing association won't spend on a daily cleaner nor will they stop him walking in the block or evict him. 

potentialhousebuyer

Realistically I just want it to stop. How difficult is it
to slip their boots off and carry them in a carrier bag therefore avoiding this? Better still, changing his footwear in his work van before coming in? 

The weekly cleaner is provided and covered by service charges. 

I agree a weekly cleaner is reasonable and there is never much cleaning needed done ordinarily, but clearly that has now changed. 

To address the question of the mop, why should I have to clean up after someone else? 

I don’t expect them to be evicted but they could be reminded that the tenancy agreement states to
keep communal areas clean and tidy, which he is failing to do. 

gwynlas

Whilst carpet looks good in communal area it is not really practical unless they also have substantial door mat that dirt could be removed on. Perhaps you need to suggest that they install one which should cut down on the mess.

sevenhills

HampshireH said:

What is it you actually want your HA to do. Realistically.
Because they can send a letter and ask the person but they aren't going to evict them for this.
So complaining to the HA is right but it in't going to go very far.

Confrontation may not help, putting a brush at the entrance could help

propertyrental

* negotiate directly with Messy Guy

* get together with neighbours and agree a schedule where you all clean once a week.

* ask HA to enforce the lease " all tenants need to keep communal areas, clean, tidy and free of obstructions. "

* ask HA to arbitrate/negotiate with MG

* ask HA to increase frequency of cleaner (though your service charge will increase)

* accept status quo

* purchase boot scraper, door mat, shoe rack etc to help MG clean/remove boots at front door

* install CCTV and put videos of MG on social media

* move

I think that covers all the options I can think of. Each has pros/cons!

Skiddaw1

it would annoy me too. As the OP says, it's not unreasonable to expect him to remove dirty boots. Why should everyone else be forced to walk through it? It's a bit unsociable.

It may be that a letter from the HA might do the trick. Alternatively, you could try the home-made cake bribery approach....

potentialhousebuyer

Thanks, I appreciate the replies. 

I don’t think they are going to lift up the carpet so I think we will just have to accept the carpet is here to stay. 

I will consider some of the suggestions though. 

He won’t be allowed a door mat outside his flat door in the communal area though as the HA asked two of us to remove ours, which actually goes against the same clause in the tenancy agreement I was referring to as it states something like “keep all communal areas clean, tidy, and free of personal items, such as but not limited to, door mats, plant pots, mobility scooters, etc”. 

So if they can enforce the clause to us over door mats, then I don’t see why they can’t enforce it over the mess.  We apologised and removed our mats, he just laughs and grins. 

I just want to live in a clean and tidy environment and not in a messy one where people like family, friends and delivery drivers comment on the state of the hallway, it’s embarrassing. 

Sunshine_girl2

Being in a job that’s deals with issues like this the HA can send him a letter politely asking him to remove his boots before entering the communal area . Whether he takes any notice is a different thing .