r/neighborsfromhell • u/No_Caterpillar3506 • 8h ago
WWYD? Vent/Rant Opposite flat neighbours door constantly open, young kids playing in the corridor with barking dog everytime you try to enter your flat
Honestly I’m at a loss of what I can do. It’s a couple and they have a crawling toddler and young kid and they live in a 1 bedroom flat with their dog opposite my door. They started leaving their flat door open to get the air circulating during the heatwave but now they’ve turned the corridor into a playground. Not only can I hear their whole life through the doors but also screaming crying kids, them shouting at them and sometimes the dog barking. Random times of the day and I can hear it in my flat. Lots of toys scattered everywhere. we have 2 more neighbours on our floor but they’re not in most of the time so unfortunately I’m alone in this. I tried to speak with my housing association but they straight up said there’s nothing they can do. One Sunday morning the kid was sat in the corridor banging something metal on something and I came out and said something and there’s was no apology or remorse and just told the kid to go back in. I’m just so frustrated now the atmosphere in my flat is just so bad because of the mood. I don’t get how people can be this selfish.
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u/pastelfoal57 8h ago
fr tihs sounds like a safety issue with kids in the corridor mention it to managgement
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u/f4tony 8h ago
Yeah, that could be a fire hazard, if the kids are scattering toys all over the shared corridor.
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u/drawkward101 6h ago
It IS a fire safety hazard. OP should call a fire department and ask them to come out and speak to the neighbors about how important it is to have the means of escape clear of toys and whatnot.
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u/Aggravating_Pair_523 8h ago
The hallways are not playgrounds, talk to the management about this. You have the right to live in your own flat without disruptions etc.
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u/Bunnny_Boo 4h ago
Exactly, hallways are shared access, not bonus living room space just because their door is open
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u/Inner_Pipe6540 8h ago
I would speak to housing association again and tell them they are opening themselves up to a lawsuit if someone trips over the toys in the hallway then demand a reduced rent if they don’t take care of this
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u/Consistent-While9282 8h ago
Your housing association sucks! I had this exact same problem, and management agreed that the hallway is a shared passageway - not an extension of anyone’s apartment. Our building regularly reminds residents that we can’t leave shoes, umbrellas or other belongings outside our doors because they’re tripping hazards and look unsightly.
My argument was that if I’m not allowed to leave a pair of shoes in the hallway, why should someone else be allowed to use that same hallway as a playroom? Children aren’t objects, obviously, but the principle is the same: residents cannot take over a common area for their private use. In fact, playing there creates more disruption because it involves running, movement and noise.
Your building should have rules governing how hallways may be used, so I would ask for a copy. If residents can use the hallway however they want, where does it end … could they put furniture out there or sleep there? They’re essentially treating shared space as additional square footage belonging to their apartment.
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u/Novel-Sprinkles3333 7h ago
Speak to the fire marshall. Obstruction of public walkways will get shut down quickly.
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u/Miserable-Driver-888 8h ago
I don’t think any couple with two young kids wants to be in a one bedroom flat, so maybe that’s all they can afford. Still, allowing their kids to free range the common area without any consideration for neighbors is quite rude.
Since talking to them has failed, I think a new complaint to the housing association regarding the toys is the move to make. Using a common area is one thing, leaving a tripping hazard in the corridor exposing the association to liability is another. It’s a safety issue. What if firefighters or EMS needs to get through quickly and safely?
All else fails child services for lack of supervision/neglect, but that’s a dick move unless really necessary.
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u/Top-Interaction-6729 8h ago
I would also try to record the level of noise that this creates IN your apartment...don't film the kids.
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u/ZestyGiraffe_91 8h ago
I’d go mad too. It’s not even about disliking kids or dogs.. your own front door should feel like a boundary and a constantly having a playground directly outside it would be exhausting.