Dealings with New Neighbor/Hallway Dispute
Hello- Looking for a bit of advice on how to handle this situation: My husband and I moved into a brownstone about two months ago, we are on the second interior level (so, we are above the parlor and have one two-floor apartment above us). In the hallway, on our floor, outside the unused second…
Hello- Looking for a bit of advice on how to handle this situation:
My husband and I moved into a brownstone about two months ago, we are on the second interior level (so, we are above the parlor and have one two-floor apartment above us). In the hallway, on our floor, outside the unused second door to our unit I have been keeping our vacuum cleaner and laundry cart. Then a few weeks ago the upstairs neighbor started keeping a bike in that corner sort or leaning up against our things. I thought, that’s sorta strange but, it’s not really in my way and it must be a pain to carry that bike up another flight, so whatever. But, I just got a text from the neighbor saying, “We are putting up a stand for our bikes in our end of the hallway if you could move your cleaning stuff at some point.” I’m wondering if I’m crazy…but, to me, the hallway isn’t theirs at all! They live upstairs, in a much bigger apartment. I don’t really know how to respond. In the ten years of living in different Brooklyn brownstones I have always experienced that the hallway on the floor with your unit is YOURS to do what you will with. Am I wrong? Also, just as the added bonus, the landlord (who lives out of state) does not want bikes in the building at all and it even says it in the lease we just signed. How should I respond? I would like to maintain being friendly with these neighbors, but I really am taken aback.
you haven’t realized by now that bicyclists are very egocentric and rules/laws do not apply to them. Everyone should bend over backwards for them.
Nobody should be storing anything in the hallway. Suggest you follow that rule and let neighbor follow whatever rules seem to be in his head.
Whether immediately or on landlord’s next visit, he’ll fix the bike rack issue without your involvement – a very definite – and legitimate – fire code issue.
Good luck,
I agree with arkday. Tell them you rent the second floor level and they cannot put a bike rack there. I think they have a lot of nerve to even try. If that goes nowhere, tell them it is against the fire code (it is), and will not be tolerated. Bikes in a hallway are a problem. We had that once where I sued to live. Everytime someone had to go past they would get hooked on the handlebars, or scraped by the pedals. I finally told them get the bike out of the hallway or it would disappear.
Storing anything in the hallway is annoying.
there is nothing more tacky and gauche than hallways filled with bikes and strollers. put that crap inside!!
*rob*
I’d just text the neighbor back saying exactly what your post says: Gee, I thought that was my space. See what response you get. Admittedly, you’re both wrong to keep anything there but if the LL doesn’t take you to task the important thing is to try to stay amicable neighbors.
Your landlord would be seriously pissed if your neighbors installed bike racks in his hallway – yes it’s the landlord’s hallway, not yours, not your neighbor’s. In my building (a condo) we tend to tolerate baby carriages and boots, but not bicycles or other paraphernalia. Most leases/house rules expressly prohibit keeping anything in the public hallways including bicycles, vacuum cleaners and doormats. So I’d keep your vacuum and laundry cart inside your apartment. I’d text your neighbor, playing dumb, and say you’ve just checked your lease and it says nothing in the hallways, so you’re taking your stuff inside. Act all surprised like and note how the lease specifically excludes bicycles in the building.
Unfortunately, there is not much more you can do, since if you tell the landlord about the bikes, the neighbor will know its you and will probably make life a little unpleasant, anything as mild as the cold shoulder and the evil eye on the stairs, to dropping things above your head at 3 a.m.
Of course Silvermax and Jock are right. But the reality is that lots of people store things in the hallway. If you don’t want to clear the hallway out, I might give the neighbor a call and say, “got your text, and I’m curious – have you historically stored your things on that floor? I can see why you’d want to put your stuff there, but actually I’d really rather you didn’t if it’s all the same to you.” Smile while you say it, and try to mean it. Should keep the tone friendly while drawing very reasonable boundaries.
Nothing can be stored on the hallway. Yours or his. If there were ever a fire you will be thankfull of that. Move your stuff inside your apt. Tell him the same.