Hi all, I have been keeping my bike in my flats "external cupboard". Basically what used to be 1 of 2 bin stores underneath the building. The car parking spaces run along the wall where the access doors to the external cupboard is. For years there has been an abandoned car parked in front of the door. Which was ideal as it had enough room for me to get the bike past and i knew i was never going to come home to find it blocked. However on Friday i came home to find the abandoned car had been removed and someone new has moved into the property which that space is designated to. Trying to come to an arrangement to swap parking spaces so i can ensure access and also not damage anyone elses vehicle scraping past with my bike. But the new owner is the kind of person that gets their kicks from being awkward and annoying so i doubt il get much help from him. He is saying i shouldn't park my bike in there as its a "fire hazzard" i dont see how this can be an issue as noone would complain if someone had a lawnmower ect their. Its a communal storage area for my block (he is in the other block so doesn't even have access to this cupboard). Surely you can keep whatever you like in it? Noone has ever had an issue, tbh noone ever really uses it except me. Is there any rules or legislation that could stop me from keeping my bike in their or is it entirely up to the factors that manage the property? He has agreed to leave me room to get passed if the factors say i can keep a motorcycle in their. But hes going to try his hardest to get my bike kicked out.
I would expect the management company to have the final word. The fire hazzard idea sounds unlikely, but maybe the bins storage will start being used to store bins if this other guy makes a fuss. I'd try to get the management guys on my side before he does. Its such a drag when this type of thing happens, no one benefits and you lose out. Goodluck.
I’d say he’s probably right from a fire hazard perspective, it’ll no doubt come down to the management company, but as soon as someone mentions the F word you’re going to be on a sticky wicket. You may have an issue with you’re own insurance also.
You’ll need to check your leasehold terms as there is a possibility that you would not be allowed to keep a motor vehicle there. Legal reasons would be around restricted access, possible damage to the communal area (although if it’s just a bin store, that would be unlikely) & things like 3rd party liabilities such as what would happen if someone else scratched or knocked over your bike while putting a bin away etc. I have a flat that I currently rent out & my leaseholder terms do specify that I cannot keep even a pushbike in my own side yard area, because technically there is also emergency access from the retail units nearby. In practice of course & with my blessing, the tenants ignore this as it’s never actually going to be a problem & i’m not an arse. If there’s nothing In your terms, I can’t see a problem but can’t say for sure that your other shared tenants will see it the same way
Neighbour sounds like a barrel of laughs. Our next door is like that and we hate it. I'm afraid the management company would find it far easier to just say no and be done with it. They just won't want the hassle, irrespective of logic. How are the bays assigned, are the flat numbers sprayed on? Is there a representative/maintenance bloke from the management company that does the rounds? Although the company will say no, an individual is easier to gain rapport with. Maybe sweet talk them into just swapping/spraying the numbers over.
Sadly I think this is the likely outcome. It's also frustrating how "fire hazard" seems to be a great excuse to ban anything. Our building has a shared garage, we have designated parking spaces. Some residents have started storing odds and sods in the parking spaces. The management company goes on a purge every so often complaining that abandoned garden furniture (or whatever) is a fire hazard. Completely ignoring the 100 litres of petrol I have in my car's tank, and forgetting the time one of our neighbours bumped his new Volvo against the wall and it burst into a fire which required seven fire appliances to control.
The issue would be with petrol in a confined space.... garages in flats are normally quiet well ventilated (naturally).
I know you are not supposed to store vehicles indoors for this reason. Built in garages within houses are designed to a different fire rating. I guess the question is, would this shed be considered 'indoors' i.e. part of the building, or would it be a 'shed' an outhouse. As the OP says, storing a lawn mower in a shed wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
The deeds to your property will govern who has access to the cupboard and for what purpose(s). The Operation and Maintenance manuals (O&M manuals) will detail any restrictions on the use of the cupboard to which your Factor should have access. I would think it highly unusual that the slab (if there is one) is of a different construction to the slab above the car park. I would think a bin fire more likely than a bike fire.
I would steal the doors off his car and fill the airvents with dogshit then complain about him to the management company.
