Am I being a jerk because I asked my new neighbor to move his pile of stuff?

Question

This is a small complex, it's two story with carport underneath and 4 apartments on top. The new neighbor started moving in last Wednesday, I was out of town for the weekend and when I got back the guy had piled "junk-yard" stuff on top of our fire escape.

I knocked on his door Monday evening and asked him to move it, he said he just moved in and if I can understand that. I said I understand that you just moved in but I need you not to block the fire escape.

I got home this evening (Wed.) and the stuff is still there and it looks like he added more to it. (ex. A 10-speed bike with one tire, a broken bench, a car bumper etc.)
Should I ask him again today, do I call the fire dept and have them cite him, the landlord is wishy-washy and I know she won't tell him anything.

I left a V/M this a.m. for the manager of the apt complex about the blocked fire escape & extinguiser.
(there was a deadly fire last night in my area & it scared me)
Thanks guys for the feedback, except those two boys that think I'm being a control freak.

Answer 1

I think you have every right to ask the man to move his junk. Its a community building not a personal junk yard. Your right about the fire escape thing, that's definitely a hazard. I would ask him again to clear the junk. If he refuses or gives you a hard time I would tell the landlord of your intentions to notify the fire marshal if nothing is done. If she wont take action then I would report it to the fire marshal. Your not being a jerk at all. Your just respecting your living environment and the safety of the people around you. I commend you for taking a stand. Bravo!

Answer 2

Your new neighbor is not thinking of his neighbors nor does he care about the danger his junk blocking the fire escape can cause.

You are not being a jerk. Sounds like you have been trying to give the guy a little slack, and he's taking advantage. Call the fire department and make a believer of him.

If you want - give him ONE more talk and tell him point blank if his belongings are not off the fire escape by tomorrow you're turning him in. But of course you are gambling each day you put this off, that there will be no fire.

Ironically -it would not surprise me if this guy isn't the one who starts a fire because he's too lazy to attend to important tasks.

Answer 3

Tell him it's not the junk itself you mind, but the fire escape should be free. I'm definitely not a neat freak but after a house fire years ago, I wouldn't sleep for one night in a place where the fire escape was blocked. Perhaps you can look around and suggest an alternative place for his stuff?

Answer 4

Well I think that "jerk" is not the word he is using to name you, think about a word starting with a "B" and you'll be right. It's hard to know if your approach was impolite or bossy since we weren't there to hear. But from my experience I know that most people don't know how to ask things. If he felt that you sounded like "b!#c#" giving him an "order" or "ultimatum" then forget about it because that stuff it's going to be there forever, and you just got an enemy for free.
I would have call the landlord everyday and force her to do her job because it's the law and if she didn't do it I would have call the law and fire department to cite her for allowing it. Now it's too late so don't get close to him again because by now you are for sure on his black list and this argument can escalate into something worst; there are many psychos out there (to give you an idea I read about a security officer that shot a bank manager lady because she went on b!#c# mode and humiliated him on public for using the phone on working hours) now she is dead an he is in jail, For an stupid phone call!; so my advice force the landlord to do her job, if she doesn't want to do it, then report her.

Answer 5

You don't want this guy to become a super irritation, so if you call Fire Department or Code enforcement, then you will for sure start a war with him.

Can you see his junk from your apartment window? Does it obstruct your view? If it does obstruct your view, and you have tried to make friends with him, maybe bring him a welcome gift, a bottle of wine you might drink together (don't crack him on the head with it)

Try to get other neighbors to have a gentle talk with him. Newcomers are sometimes defensive. Maybe his wife or Mom just died. You don't know his story.

If after trying to reason with him, and he turns out to be a collosal jerk, You might take one at a time his things that obstruct the place and put them in storage for him (Is there a storage room?)

If he is totally dense and unreasonable, call Good Will from a phone booth, using his name, of course when he is out and donate his stuff fictiously.

Answer 6

Take a deep breath. Yes, I agree it is very very annoying. However, do you really truly want to make an enemy of a new neighbor; i.e., do you want to die on this hill? Suggestion: wait one full week. If he has not carted that junk down to the dumpster, then call the fire department and leave an anonymous tip about the blocked fire escape.

Answer 7

I wouldn't say anything else to the neighbor. Instead, call the landlord and tell him about the problem. If that doesn't do the trick, call the fire marshall and report a fire safety violation.

Answer 8

i think you should wait dont say it again wait then report it. i had people in the bk of my yard that were putting alot of cig butts on dryed leaves and i think i called the police they did not help me. or it was the fire dept. how do you like that. some get spiteful if you tell them what to do. they have entitlement issues. or maybe you could say after a day or so and maybe some one Else will say something to him. i am very afraid of fire its a big fear of mine. im not trying to give u a hard time it scares me to much.

Answer 9

Call the police or fire dept. I'm having trouble with my neighbor & I'm putting up security cameras with microphones to record their next vandalism for the police. If I call now, it's my word against theirs.

Answer 10

Tell the landlord. I wouldn't go further than that for now. Give the guy some time. That would be a reasonable approach.