Do you think it's unreasonable...

We live in a townhouse in London. We own the ground floor apartment and there is a couple who own the upstairs apartment. Upstairs neighbors are going away for 18 months (guy has to finish his degree and they're moving to a small city about 3 hours away together) and renting out their place in while they're gone.

Old neighbor used to leave his bike in the communal hallway - was never a problem for us, until I got a bike of my own (I ride to work). It's really difficult to get one bike past when another is stored in the hallway. We didn't say anything before they moved out because there was only an overlap of a few weeks. However, new people moved in this weekend and by Sunday guy was storing his bike there.

I ran into the woman last night and asked if they wouldn't mind not leaving it there - and just as I suspected, it's a problem. She said the owners told them it would be okay (the owners told us new people had asked, but they didn't say anything either way). She said Oh, well, then we'll have to carry it up the stairs every night. Um, well, yeah - I carry mine through the house every night, and while not up the stairs, through our very narrow, very white hallway.

She suggested hanging a rack in the hallway, but to be honest, we've done a lot of work to the house and would just rather not have that in the hallway. I should note without getting into too much detail abotu UK housing laws that we technically "own" the hallway and it's up to us to take care of it.

Am I being totally unreasonable to insist they take the bike upstairs every night???

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Are the strairs straight up without any landing of any sort? i.e. If there is a landing maybe they can carry it up a few stairs and store it there?

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

The stairs are inside their apartment, there is a small landing at the top, which I think the bike will fit on - but I guess the issue is the stairs themselves.

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Being that you own the hallway, no, I don't think you're being unreasonable.

Maybe you could call upstairs owner's and express your concern to them - have them deal with the tenants.

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

I don't think you're a meanie....though I would probably feel the same way if were I in your situation

It's a fair request...good luck!

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

If you own the hallway, and you are not even storing your own bike there, then no, I dont think your request is unreasonable at all.

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

I agree with the others- you own the hallway.

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Ask teh owners if the tenants can put a rack on the wall in the stairway.
I agree with you, but I would feel bad about it, too!

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Re: Do you think it's unreasonable...

Is there any kind of rack they can put on the back of their door, so the bike will insdie their apartment, but at the bottom of the stairs?

The door might be too narrow though.

Do they knwo you own the hallway? I dot'n knwo if that 's jsut common knowledge for people in London, ut if thye've never lowned & awlays rented, maybe they're not aware.

Of coursur you might want to mentionyour reasoning of having to repair & paint it, if it gets damaged.