Wall hung letter box in corridor disallowed?

Hi Mike,

First of all – can you explain why you sealed up the original letterbox? Was this for security?

As regards the lease. It may not specifically mention letterboxes on walls but somewhere in there usually under the “obligations of the lessee” will be a clause forbidding the affixing of items in communal areas. Leases can vary and sometimes have “catch all” clauses that prevent any alteration or addition to the landlords fixtures and fittings.

I ask the same as Gary, why on earth have you sealed up the letterbox on your door?

I had a house where my tenant’s had installed a type of secure postal bag on the inside of their letterbox, the bag was fire-proof so that if anyone tried to start a fire by putting burning paper etc through the letterbox then it would not do anything as the fire would be contained within the bag and would just go out within a few seconds. – If you are concerned about this type of security issue, then you could get one of these bags.

Hi Gary, Rob,
It’s not primarily for security reasons, but more for modernisation. This is a flat, not a house, it’s very dated to have letter thrown through the door. All my other flats have centralised postbox area either for the building or the floor the flat is on.

My question is really in terms of lease, what’s my position is?
The corridor outside my flat is “closed-up” area with a door, so this area is for access to my flat only, not leads to any other flats, if this makes any difference to my position.

I will check the lease regarding the fixture in communal area as suggested by Gary.
Thanks

Dear Mike

There are two parts to the reasoning.

Firstly, as someone else has alluded to, the hallway is not yours, it is a communal area so you have no rights to place anything in it.

Secondly, based on my experience of block management, it may well be considered a fire risk. We continually try to keep communal areas free of items. Our H and S adviser warns that if there is a fire we don’t want anything in the way (on the basis that it may be dark and the hallways are filled with smoke – worst case scenario). Therefore we remove anything that is not part of the building.

Graham

Graham has said it all. Its a communal area not an extension to your apartment.

I would be glad to have my mail through the flat door. Communal post boxes are notorious for bank card theft. It isn’t more modern but cheaper and the postmen prefer it as they have less distance to travel.

Yes I`m afraid its a communal area and you wont be allowed to personalise it. If they relent just this once – then everyone will start wanting equal rights , Before you know it there will be plant pots, ceramic animals, door plaques saying Home Sweet Home, bicycles and key safes etc .

The Fire Service will object saying it obstructs free access in case there is a fire and H&S will worry if a child catches their head on the sharp corner of it while playing about .

Btw I don`t agree that letter boxes are dated at all . Some things never go out of fashion .
I personally like the reassuring sound of post dropping on my door mat