Dirty habit: our new neighbours keep leaving their muddy bikes in the hallway, what can we do?

Question: We have lived in our flat for 17 years and never had problems, but new people have moved into one of the ground-floor flats and they keep leaving two bikes in the entrance hall.

The bikes are usually dirty and leave mud tracks across the hall floor. They mark the walls and it is difficult for my partner, who uses a walking stick, to manoeuvre past the bikes to reach the stairs up to our flat.

A neighbour has already spoken to the new people but it has made no difference. How can we deal with this without upsetting them?

Answer: The main entrance hall, corridors, and stairs etc will be common parts of the building.

Your lease should include covenants stating that the common areas, accessways, stairs etc must not be obstructed at any time; that the lessees and occupiers of the flats should not behave in a manner that would cause nuisance to other flat owners and that you have the right to require your landlord to act to enforce covenants that the lessees of other flats have entered into with the landlord, provided you indemnify the landlord for his costs and expenses.

Leaving bikes obstructing the main entrance hall is not only inconvenient but in the case of a fire could hinder exiting from the building and restrict access to the building for the fire brigade.

Try to resolve this amicably by explaining to the new people that they are breaching covenants by leaving bikes in the hall and that the obstruction could be dangerous if there was a fire.

If that fails, a polite letter to them from you and your neighbours jointly may work, or, as a last resort, involve your landlord and/or managing agents.

Check your contents insurance policy to see if you have legal expenses insurance which may cover a claim just in case matters are not able to be resolved amicably.

These answers can only be a very brief commentary on the issues raised and should not be relied on as legal advice. No liability is accepted for such reliance. If you have similar issues, you should obtain advice from a solicitor.

If you have a question for Fiona McNulty, please email legalsolutions@standard.co.uk or write to Legal Solutions, Homes & Property, Evening Standard, 2 Derry Street, W8 5EE. Questions cannot be answered individually, but we will try to feature them here. Fiona McNulty is a solicitor specialising in residential property.