Do you live in an apartment building?

[snapppyd]

Never mind, I've decided to take some advice and choose my battles. Thanks for the reality check!





Aren't there rules about keeping public areas clean, free and clear?

A new neighbor moved onto our floor (from another floor in the building, and her reputation precedes her). She is now parking not one, but two electric wheelchairs out in the common hallway. I don't think I should have to look at these chairs every time I open my door, as well as them being a hazard.

I believe she has a sense of entitlement, as she also owned a rather large dog before dogs were legally permitted in the building. And no, he was not a service dog - she is not paralyzed and gets up out of the chair to get her mail, throw out her trash, etc. She did not replace him when he passed.

Would you be annoyed? Suppose we all (there are 8 apartments on this floor, including one with baby carriages) decided to put our stuff out in the hall?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Funny you should ask. I have my complex's handbook right here.

I suppose it's open to interpretation, but under "violations of any of the following may lead to eviction", it lists in part
Failure to live in a peaceful way respecting the rights of your neighbors
Failure to keep the public areas clean and free of litter
Creating disturbing, offensive, or nuisance situations in private or public
Can you contact your landlord/management office about existing (or potential) rules? Unless the apartments are extremely small, it would seem to me that medical equipment should be stored in its owner's apartment - not in a public area where it is a nuisance to other tenants.

 

[snapppyd]

Funny you should ask. I have my complex's handbook right here.

I suppose it's open to interpretation, but under "violations of any of the following may lead to eviction", it lists in part
Failure to live in a peaceful way respecting the rights of your neighbors
Failure to keep the public areas clean and free of litter
Creating disturbing, offensive, or nuisance situations in private or public
Can you contact your landlord/management office about existing (or potential) rules? Unless the apartments are extremely small, it would seem to me that medical equipment should be stored in its owner's apartment - not in a public area where it is a nuisance to other tenants.

I called this morning and was told they would notify "public safety" -we have our own security guards. At first they told me I would have to put my complaint in writing, which I found strange. I'm not looking to start a war with my neighbor, I want management to enforce the rules fairly.

She has the largest apartment on the floor, I have one of the smallest, yet I have never felt the need to store items out in the hall.

 

[jen0610]

When we lived in an apartment, the lease stated that no personal items maybe left or displayed in the common area's - hallways, stairwells, doorways and sidewalks. Only exceptions are doormats no larger than AxA.

If we would have had any issues, I would have made a copy of this part of the lease highlighting this section of the lease, taken a picture with the date shown on the photo and sent it to the office. No need for anyone to know who exactly was making the complaint to the office.

 

[DMickey28]

It would certainly annoy me and I would probably be fairly cold shouldered if I had to deal with this women at any point in passing, but I wouldn't take it further UNLESS they obstructed my way or made it difficult for me to walk down the hallway with a stroller or my groceries.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes, we have rules but I live across from Sanford and Son so it just doesn't matter.

They have currently: An electric wheelchair, a coffee table (upended), three end tables, a painting (it is turned around or I'd tell you what it is of), chains for the wheelchair attached to outside stairs to the apartments above us, two pots with dead plants, a stack of phonebooks, and some country clutter decorations with dirty fake plants.

We have a Welcome mat.


There is nothing we can do as they are both old and handicapped so we just hum their theme song when we walk by: Wha-wa-wha-WA-wah, duh, duh.

 

[trip]

Haven't we learned anything on the DIS? Rules are for everyone else.

 

[java]

I wonder if they don't fit into the doorway? Is that her problem? Man that would bug me. We actually had a "storage" area in the basement of our building for bigger items. Good luck.

 

[snapppyd]

I wonder if they don't fit into the doorway? Is that her problem? Man that would bug me. We actually had a "storage" area in the basement of our building for bigger items. Good luck.

Nope, she has had them inside the apartment, I've seen her go in and out. I guess it's too much trouble. Maybe I should start storing my ironing board and grocery cart outside my door?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I wonder if they don't fit into the doorway? Is that her problem? Man that would bug me. We actually had a "storage" area in the basement of our building for bigger items. Good luck.

I was thinking the same thing. They may not fit through the doorway. My DH uses an ECV and they are really wider than they appear (not sure that made sense). Anyway, he can also get up and walk around however prolonged exercise aggravates his issues. She may not need it in the apartment to move around but may need it when she is out shopping, running errands, whatever. Check to make sure it's not a doorway issue. Because the building may allow it in the hallway as some sort of ADA accomodation. And really, is it really that horrible to look at? It's not as if its bags of trash.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I live in a condo. My parents live in the same building. When at home, my mom parks her scooter in her house, but when at our place, she parks in the hall. She doesn't have an obvious disability per se. Though now that she's losing her hair, I'm guessing that most people have figured out that she has cancer.

Yes, there is a rule about storing personal property in the halls, but I don't see parking in the hall during a visit as "storing."

 

[snapppyd]

I live in a condo. My parents live in the same building. When at home, my mom parks her scooter in her house, but when at our place, she parks in the hall. She doesn't have an obvious disability per se. Though now that she's losing her hair, I'm guessing that most people have figured out that she has cancer.

Yes, there is a rule about storing personal property in the halls, but I don't see parking in the hall during a visit as "storing."

In this case, the woman lives here. The scooter fits through her door. There are 8 apartments on the floor and everyone else has always found a way to store their possessions, both large and small, inside.

No, it's not bags or trash, but I really don't see why I have to look at two wheelchairs every time I open my door.

 

[mickeyboat]

In this case, the woman lives here. The scooter fits through her door. There are 8 apartments on the floor and everyone else has always found a way to store their possessions, both large and small, inside.

No, it's not bags or trash, but I really don't see why I have to look at two wheelchairs every time I open my door.

I don't understand why it is such a problem for you. Are they in your way? are you tripping over them? I suppose if you spent a lot of time in the hall and they were a nuisance, you have a right to be annoyed. But if the only issue is that you don't want to look at them, I think you probably should choose your battles and let it go.

 

[kim929]

why would she need 2? I would have to say something. When I lived in an apartment, the landlord said it right up front, nothing is to be in the hallways. no storing anything out there as it could be a fire hazard, if there was a fire, the firemen might have a hard time getting thru with all their gear.

 

[snapppyd]

why would she need 2? I would have to say something. When I lived in an apartment, the landlord said it right up front, nothing is to be in the hallways. no storing anything out there as it could be a fire hazard, if there was a fire, the firemen might have a hard time getting thru with all their gear.

 

[FireDancer]

In this case, the woman lives here. The scooter fits through her door. There are 8 apartments on the floor and everyone else has always found a way to store their possessions, both large and small, inside.

No, it's not bags or trash, but I really don't see why I have to look at two wheelchairs every time I open my door.

I can't speak for the other possessions but as far as the scooters go I guess I would be glad I am a healthy person who doesn't need one and go on with my day. We all have out battles but I wouldn't pick this one. <humor>Besides, I'm too busy talking to strangers and eating my peanut butter sandwich to care. </humor>

 

[My sister's princess]

I can't speak for the other possessions but as far as the scooters go I guess I would be glad I am a healthy person who doesn't need one and go on with my day. We all have out battles but I wouldn't pick this one. <humor>Besides, I'm too busy talking to strangers and eating my peanut butter sandwich to care. </humor>

Its all about the peanut butter with you LOL


OP FWIW I live an apartment building, and if my neighbors were doing that I wouldn't be happy and would have complained as well.

 

[snapppyd]

I think you all are right about picking battles, I guess I was having one of my apartment-living induced claustrophobic moments.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I live in NYC and no items are allowed in the hallway by order of the fire department. If the hallway fills with smoke it is a giant hazard. The building porters in our building can actually just throw away anything in the hallway, although they are nice and always tell offenders beforehand. The landlord can, and will be fined for repeated offenses as not only do the items block people's path on the way out, but also block the path of the firefighters coming in. You may know to go around the chairs even if the hallway is filled with black smoke, but the firefighters will not.

 

[Aisling]

Yes, we have rules but I live across from Sanford and Son so it just doesn't matter.