Blocked Fire Exit

CyrildoSquirrel

hi all, I have a question that i'm hoping someone will be able to answer.

I live in a house that's been converted into two flats. The people in the other flat have decided to leave a bicycle in the hall, right outside my front door and blocking off the only exit of the house.

I've asked them to move it, they've refused, I asked again, this time pointing out that its a fire hazard and the person who owns the bike laughed in my face and refused to move it.

What should my next step be?

Shield

Why did you post this in Emergency Services? Would Accommodation & Property not be more suitable?

pa990

contact your landlord

Turner

pa990 wrote: »

contact your landlord

Agreed.

Or everytime you see the bike, move it somewhere away from the exit.

civdef

In fairness to the OP, issues relating to fire safety come under the remit of the fire service under the Fire Services Act.

What's describes is a safety issue if it impedes emergency egress, but it would be a difficult one for the fire service to enforce, the tactic described above of simply moving the bike out of the hall every chance you get might be one way of dealing with the issue - you're well within your rights to do so.

CyrildoSquirrel

Thank you civdef. I would much rather sort this out between us without having to involve landlord or fire service as it's so petty but they might listen to someone in authority more.

I did say I'd keep moving it out of the hallway and the owner said they'd call the police if I touched thier property. Maybe I should drop into the local station and see what their stance would be. The front door opens inwards, so if fire services or police had to gain emergancy access the bike would also be in the way for this.

Trojan911

CyrildoSquirrel wrote: »

Thank you civdef. I would much rather sort this out between us without having to involve landlord or fire service as it's so petty but they might listen to someone in authority more.

I did say I'd keep moving it out of the hallway and the owner said they'd call the police if I touched thier property. Maybe I should drop into the local station and see what their stance would be. The front door opens inwards, so if fire services or police had to gain emergancy access the bike would also be in the way for this.

If that's the case then I would consider the matter beyond personal resolvement. I would, at this stage, inform the landlord and ask his/her intervention with the note that I am also going to take advice from the Fire Brigade.

If you decide to go to the local Fire Brigade, take a couple of snaps or recordings of the obstruction the way the offenders have left it. That will give them a better outlook on the situation.

And by the way, it's not petty. Fire does not care which victim it chooses nor does smoke.

focus_mad

Just saw the thread there, from a building surveyor point of view, if the Landlord is contacted about this problem and he does nothing, under the building management plan the landlord would be considered responsible to make sure his/her tenants keep areas deemed as "fire escape routes" clear.