UK Landlord Forum / Life

I have a tenant who is fine in every respect,except that she persists in leaving two bikes under the staircase of the communal area in a block of 8.This goes against the terms of her lease,and the header lease.The  letting agents have sent 3 letters  over the 4 years she has lived there,another landlord paid her a visit to complain,and I spoke to her 6 weeks ago.She had also added a shelf  unit on the landing for her outdoor clothing/shoes.and started putting racks of washing to dry in the garden of one of the downstairs flats which I also own.She has remedied the last two issues,but the bikes remain.She has allocated car parking space,but I assume she is scared of the bikes being stolen.

I suspect that her daughter is also living there,hence the second bike.

I am told that a HA block in a nearby town had problems with bikes.A fire broke out,the firemen mentioned tenants bikes,and the insurance claim was refused.I have told her this.I can't see any way round this other than issue 21?

I suppose "On yer bike!" would be an apt response, under the circumstances. It would be a shame (and a waste of money) to lose a decent tenant if it can be avoided, though. I'd make it clear to her that you're in an awkward position and the only way out of it, as far as you're concerned, is to give her two months' notice, unless she moves the bikes. Maybe she could swap them for a folding one?

I don't know if  the folding ones are  much more expensive,but that could be the answer.I will suggest it. She is a personal trainer,so strong enough to carry them up one flight.It does not make sense for her to be so stubborn over this,her rent is nearly £100 pm less than others in the block,which in turn are the cheapest in this expensive town.Nowt so queer as folk! Thank you for responding-I have been tempted to say something similar to "On yer bike" to her.

It's actually more serious than this. The Fire Brigade could easily advise and insist that there are no obstacles in communal hallways. You say it's under the stairs, so it does sound like it's out of the way and common sense might say it's never going to be an obstacle in an evacuation scenario, and maybe the Lease is general in its wording - none of that matters. What matters is the small, tiny, minuscule possibility that the presence of these obstacles could cause people to die! And imagine how you'd feel and how the Tenant would feel if that was to ever pass.

The way forward is simple - comply or evict. Not only for your Insurance purposes, not only for professional consideration to another Landlord (who you assume has their Tenants breathing down their neck), but for peace of mind that if a fire ever breaks out in the block then she, and almost by unfair implication, are not perceived as - somehow - responsible or contributing to injury or death.

What you have here is a Tenant who thinks you need them more than they need you - therefore they can get away with things. Hence the stubbornness. It would be wise to disabuse them of this notion at this stage. A precautionary Section 21 at this time of year would do that very, very nicely.

Thank you,and you are right.I have Googled,and both fire departments and housing authorities take a dim view of bikes.I also feel mortified to be a risk to other occupants.I will be taking on management when the tenancy ends,but am going to get the agents to write as you suggest.I am wondering if I should wait a few weeks,in case she vacates after one month,leaving me with a void during the dog days of Christmas/ New Year?

You are actually protecting her from herself.