Is This Right...

pastafreak | 13:15 Tue 11th Jul 2017 | ChatterBank

21 Answers

We have a new management company for our 3 blocks of maisonettes.
They recently sent round a letter that all personal items are to be removed from the walkways and common areas. I know I took this to mean toys, bikes or other items that are sometimes difficult to store.
I've just learned it also means baskets,tubs and hanging plants. One neighbour at the end has a gorgeous display every year, but now has to dispose of all her plants.
I find this such a shame as plants make a place... particularly blocks of flats...look homely. They soften the edges of all the concrete and attract bees and birds.

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dannyk13

Was any reason given for this request?

Samuraisan

Maybe they are afraid of being sued if a hanging plant falls on someone's head.

Mamyalynne

If that is definitely what they mean then I agree it's unfair, perhaps appeal to them using the reasons you have here.

Most blocks (mine too) are strict about uncluttered stairways,halls and walkways - but as you say plants improve an area.

albaqwerty

I could understand if they were to ask people to be considerate where bikes and toys are left, but to ask folk to remove hanging baskets, etc is such a shame.
If you all wrote and ask them to re-consider the plant situation, pound to a penny they'd reply with some nonsense about Elfin Safety.

Barsel

The only reason I can think of is to make it easier for whoever it is that cleans the walkways and common areas. Who cleans them and how often do they do it?

windywillow

I imagine it is a Fire & Safety Regulation - common areas and walkways to be completely free of clutter to enable free access to the emergency services, should they need it (heaven forbid) in case of a fire.

magpie

i live in a housing association and i was told to remove some laminated info sheets of WW1 sites. this is because of potential fire problems despite there being lots of notices similarly laminated by the HA elsewhere in the block bulls***t

albaqwerty

hope you told them where to go magpie!!

albaqwerty

come to think of it, FIL has a laminated sign on his front door (4 in the block and 4 next door - through the wall so to speak)
It's been on his front door for a few years and no-one has told him to remove it.

pastafreak

Question Author

They say...// We are writing this memo because we have been made aware of an increasingly pressing issue regarding personal items being left in the communal areas//
I'm really not sure what the "issue" is. Except for the plants I mentioned,and one father sometimes leaving his kids(2) bikes leaning against his wall, this is a fairly tidy place. Yes, sometimes a few folk will leave a bag of rubbish out...there are 2 who do that sometimes...but I don't know if that's the issue.
Management will be conducting an "inspection" to see if things have improved...and remove any offending items. Maybe it's issue is with the other 2 buildings.
The areas are cleaned once a week...and the handyman who does it is the one who just told me it includes plants. He's also mystified.
I may email them later.

Barsel

If the person who cleans hasn't complained, perhaps it's as windywillow has suggested.
You probably have Health and Safety checks too, and that would probably say those areas should be made safe.
I bet it looks so much nicer with the plants.

dannyk13

You would hardly call hanging baskets as being left anywhere.

whiskeryron

Rules is rules innit ?

hereIam

Some 'jobsworth' has to earn his salary I guess !

bednobs

it makes utter sense to me. Following grnfell, HA's are under a lot of scrutiny and pressure. Much easier to have a blanket ban on everything, rather than pick and choose