condo owner clutters hallway inconveniencing me, another owner

[Reine]

I own and live in the 1st floor unit of a 4-story, 4 unit condo building, and for 12 years have enjoyed the convenience of using the commonly owned stairs to the lower level and long hallway to gain access to the outdoor garbage cans located under the outdoor stairs. The owner of the studio apartment on the ground floor in back of the garages who moved here about the first of this year 2009, has been gradually storing his belongings in the hallway until it is now unsafe for me, an elderly woman, to use the hallway and stairs. The owner himself, a young man, doesn't even use the hallway except for storage.

I have spoken to the owner in question and to the co-op management but they don't seem motivated to help me. It is against the by-laws to use the hallways for storage.

Do I have any recourse in the law?

 

[jharris352]

I'm sure it is against the fire code. Hallways are to be free of debris in case of a fire. Tell the Condo manager if they don't have the halls cleared, you are going to contact the fire Marshall. That should work. As a backup, get a copy of the bi-laws. I can't imagine that there is not a prohibition to storing personal belongings in common spaces.

PS: If that doesn't work, just start taking things with you and selling them on craigs list. What he leaves in common areas is abandoned property. Ok, that's a thought but don't do it. You could leave him a note on his door that you intend to though, that might get interesting.