Neighbour having problem with leaving pushchair in communal hallway

littlemouse122

Just looking for some advice please.

My neighbour has just come knocking on my door asking what she should do. We live in a block of flats. We are both on the top floor (2nd). She has 3 kids, one is just a baby of 2 months. Her landlord has contacted her to tell her she can no longer keep her pushchair locked up in the hallway on the ground floor as someone has complained. The pushchair takes up about 1/3rd of the hallway but is fairly out of the way and this only affects entrance to the 2 flats on the ground floor although there is plenty of room for occupants of these flats to walk past the pushchair. She cannot carry it and her baby up to her flat every time she uses it. Her husband takes it up at night and puts it back in the hallway in the morning. There is nowhere else on the premises to keep it. I have told her to look in their tenancy agreement to see if there is anything stipulating regulations about communal hallways but she is really fretting and I don’t know what advice to give her except to contact CAB regarding their rights as tenants.

They are not English and do not know much about UK housing regulations and are going back to their country of Origin in August.

If anyone knows what her rights are regarding this or where she can find out, I would be very grateful.

vodkawitch1

she will probably be told she has no right to keep it there. if there has been a complaint, the people who have complained only need to say it would hinder their access in an emergency and they would win any dispute. Sorry.

Lavendyr

She really can't fit it in the flat? Not even in a hallway or something? These must be very small flats...

EdInvestor

The main leases in most leasehold buildings stipulate that you can't leave items in communal hallways, can't keep pets etc, and these rules apply to tenants if the the leaseholder want to let the property.She thus will have to obey the rule. Perhaps get a smaller lighter pushchair which she can carry up the stairs?

littlemouse122

Lavendyr wrote: »

She really can't fit it in the flat? Not even in a hallway or something? These must be very small flats...

Its one of those really big chunky ones and the issue is more of her having to take it up and down the stairs (with a baby) every time she needs to go out. I don't think she'd be able to lift it on her own let alone carry it up or down 2 flights.

money_saving_diva

Hi I can't help other than to say when I don't use my pushchair I take my baby out in a sling - you would think the baby is heavy but I am not very strong and can walk easily/carry things with my 6 month old baby in the sling. I often can not park near my house so use it to carry baby easily from car to house as my hands are then free to carry other stuff. I just thought she could use one instead of buggy and/or to carry baby upstairs while carrying a light weight buggy up? I know it can be difficult! especially as you ususally have shopping and a baby change bag but thought it was worth suggesting as I wouldn't be without mine. I am suprised people in the flats haven't been more understanding if the husband takes it up at night? poor woman.

sarah_elton

I live in a second floor flat too and have to carry my bike up the stairs and keep it in my spare bedroom - no bike shed on the grounds and the management company don't allow people to keep anything in communal hallways. I'm afraid this is pretty standard. Although you say it only blocks 1/3 of the hallway, imagine when those groundfloor occupants are coming in with 3 Tesco carriers in each hand - any obstruction is going to be inconvenient.

Sounds like the issue is carrying it, not the space for it in the flat. I hate to say it but if the family are renting they might be better off moving to a ground floor flat for the first few years till they don't have buggies to wrestle with. Or at least to a block that has lifts.

EDIT: Just seen re moving back home in August so I guess they can't start another six month tenancy. Only alternative I can think of is to flog the pushchair in the local classifieds and get one that she can carry.

Oldernotwiser

I wouldn't want to have to get past a pushchair in a communal hallway in case of a fire! With 3 young children she needs to be more safety conscious. Help her to sell it.

lil_me

Wondering if someone has a less bulky puhchair on Freecycle in your area? I had one with a shoulder strap when my boys were little which was great to carry up stairs, on buses etc. If she hasn't got the internet maybe you could have a look for her. Yes I think I would be concerned over the safety aspect also.

Andy_Hamilton

I know it's going to help but you say the below neighbours are leaving in august. Tell your friend to get her name on one of the lower floor flats if she struggles to get up the stairs with all the stuff.

danm

littlemouse122 wrote: »

Its one of those really big chunky ones and the issue is more of her having to take it up and down the stairs (with a baby) every time she needs to go out. I don't think she'd be able to lift it on her own let alone carry it up or down 2 flights.

i hate to say this, but i think she has contributed to her own problem a little here. Why buy a buggy you can't lift if you know you live upstairs?

That said, has she considered approaching the neighbours, explaining her situation and hoping to come to a comprimise.

sometimes people just like to be kept informed/asked as a curteousy.

for example, if a neighbour wanted to park across my drive, i'd have no problem provided he would be arround to move the car. I'd tell them they could do it any time they wanted and not to worry about knocking everytime. If they did it without asking, thats a different matter.

communication goes a long way