Neighbour issue - Am I right to be annoyed?

LegacyUser

Ok, I live in a small block of apartmrents - presently there's only 3 tenants, including myself as one of them. We all share the main front door and the rear back door. There's a stairway when you come in the front door, that leads up to the first 2 apartments, situated on a small landing section. Then there's another stairs up which leads to the next landing where my door and neighbour's door is - not that big, about 4ft x 7ft I guess.
Anyway, since this new neighbour moved in, in late Summer I think, they have started leaving stuff out in the landing all the time. When they go anywhere if the weather is bad, when they come back they leave their mucky runners out there - there's about 3 pairs there at any given time. Likewise, wet coats are draped over the banister to dry off. Couple of weeks ago they washed their bath mat set and let it dry again out on the banister. This week the mop and mop bucket are out there for the last 4 or 5 days...
Am I being petty in letting this annoy me? True, they're not in my way and I don't have to step out over them or anything. But they're the first and last thing I see when i head out or come home. And, I know it's not MY space but it's not theirs either. It's not that I get a lot of visitors but any I do have surely shouldn't have to look at their stuff, should they?

LegacyUser

Assuming your all renting from the same Landlord what does your lease say regarding keeping items in the common areas?

looksee

Put up a sign saying

'Fire Safety Regulations. This area must be kept clear

The Management'

LegacyUser

OP again here... I haven't rooted out the lease to check but as far as I can remember I can't recall anything about common areas being in it. I will have to look it up...

As for putting up the sign, I've half thought about doing that. I was going to mention it to the landlord when I next bump into him. I'd prefer if he did it. I don't think it's asking too much. In all the years that I've lived here, I've only bothered him once when I couldn't solve something myself. I work in a place and I've had people coming in for lightbulbs wanting a receipt to give to their landlord!

Kidchameleon

In my apt, in the management company contract, we are NOT allowed to do things like that. You should talk to the management company / agent.

Merkin

Phone your landlord and tell him communal areas are beginning to resemble a tenement and that all this rubbish is posing a very real fire hazard. Mention health and safety and he'll get on the case right away. Some people are so selfish and inconsiderate, this would drive me mad :mad:

gotasmoke

I personally don't see what the problem is. As you said yourself, they are not in your way and you don't have to step out over them or anything. If that is true, why is it bothering you?

LegacyUser

I don't think it would bother me. Some shoes outside a door drying, a coat or mat on a banister airing just isn't a big deal to me. It would be a different story if they were littering or had stacks of stuff blocking the landing for others, but you admitted that you don't have to step over them or anything and that these things are not even in your way.

It seems almost like you feel they are a territorial threat or something to you even though you acknowledge that it is not your space you point out that it also not theirs. You seem to be more annoyed that they are just making themselves more at home than you do.
I would look at it in the way that it could be space that you could BOTH use for small items if you wanted and that there is no need to be territorial over someone airing a few bits on the landing. (Again it might be different if they were drying their entire laundry over a large portion of the banister, but you just mentioned a couple of shoes outside the door and a bath mat)

If it was genuinely a fire hazard (even though you said these little bits are not in the way at all) or if it is against the tenancy agreements for some good reason, then of course you have the right to say something about it. Otherwise imo it just sounds like you are getting bent out of shape over something a little petty.

That's just my opinion though, and you of course have the right to feel the way you do too.

Lorna123

I would feel like you do OP. People should keep their belongings behind their own front door. Leaving things outside like that makes the place look untidy and we shouldn't have to look at other peoples' runners airing out. It starts to lower the tone of the place and is not fair on other residents. Some people know how to behave and others don't. Imagine if every house had stuff out the front for all their neighbours to see, it doesn't bear thinking about !!!

I would be fairly confident that the Landlord will not agree with this either, so get on to him immediately and let him take it from there. Do not tackle these neighbours yourself though as they might take offence and stir it up more.

tinkerbell

OP, for health and safety reasons the hallway must be kept clear of people's crap. Ring up your landlord, there management company would have a health and safety policy on this and can send a copy to the offending residents. Also, they can write in the letter that any belongings can be removed if left in the hallway.

Rhys Essien

This will learn em.
You can get these 'Keep Area Clear' signs to print off online.

LegacyUser

OP here again... Thanks for all the replies, appreciate them.

It's not a territorial thing as someone said, I just think it's behaviour that lacks manners and consideration for those around them. As for BOTH of us using the space as a common space? I don't want that. As someone else posted, and I fully agree with them - your stuff belongs inside your front door. When I get home with a sopping wet jacket or umbrella I let them dry off in the shower - not on the banister outside dripping down on the stairs/floor below.

I just think this is taking the p1ss as regards making yourself at home.

Thanks again

simply simple

OP have you ever mentioned your concern to your neighbors?
Mentioning the issue directly to the landlord wont be a good idea. You need to stay there with your neighbors and would hinder both of yours peace. this may make them annoyed and will set their eye on finding mistake with you which you might not have on your mind or doing out of ignorance that it is bothering someone else.
Its is fair to them if you could mention the issue to them, may be they did not even realize at all that you have problem with what they are doing, might be obvious to them. They might turn out to be considerate and may stop doing it or you both may have a solution that is good for both of you?

implausible

Is there anywhere else for your neighbour to leave these items? A balcony for example. If there is, you could mention it to them to use that instead.

If not, I personally would not like to have mucky trainers etc inside in an apartment. Being from the country, I would be used to putting things like that outside or in a utility room. People of other nationalities can be quite fussy about wearing shoes indoors on carpets, so maybe that's why they do it.

If they are unobtrusive, not in your way or in "your" space, I think you should just ignore them.

blacklilly

Op, the common areas are owned by the management company and residents are not permitted to store any items in the common areas regardless of the type of items etc.
I'm assuming the apartments you live in are relatively new as you say only three apartments are let.
Speak to your landlord, ask them who the managing agent for the management company is and write a letter to them. They will in turn write to the tenants of the apartment and their landlord advising them that they are not permitted to store any personal items in the common areas. Furthermore most house rules explicitly allow for the management company to remove such items without any notice.

Lorna123

I would let the landlord deal with this if I were you OP. You don't know how your neighbour would react and especially if they have already shown the kind of manners they have. You don't want to be personally in the firing line should they get nasty. It has to be a fire hazard and that should be the part that is emphasized.