Hi, I am in the middle of a dispute surrounding the entrance lobby to my flat, there is a hallway with two flats either side,I walk passed the 2 doors and then pull open a door into the lobby area which has one window and my Flat front door, I have to pull the door open to gain entrance to the lobby. The deeds that are held with the residents association say I own the lobby area that is defined on the deeds. The fire exit routes are defined going away from my flat, i.e pushing out. I am being told by the chair person that this door is a fire exit route which I cannot understand, Why would a fire exit route go into a lobby with one window? - The chair has an interest in storing a filing cabinet in the lobby. Is the chairperson clutching at straws for her own gain, or can I negate her claims that this is in fact a fire exit route Please Help!!!

James. Do you mean the chair says this is not a fire escape route? From your description, it most certainly is Forget the fire side for a minute. If you have deeds saying this lobby is, in effect, your porch - can't you lock it? (& keep the Chair out!?) There should be a fire risk assessment (FRA) report available, carried out on behalf of the residents association. This is required by law. If there isn't one, you should insist one is carried out urgently and ask that the issue of the proposed filing cabinet be included in the FRA If there is a FRA, you could argue that it now needs reviewing as the means of escape from your flat have altered significantly due to this (proposed) obstruction You may have a problem if for some reason the lobby is yours,but you cannot secure it. In this case the lobby it is no longer covered the the fire safety legislation - which in England & wales is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005- as dwellings are excluded. (law re having a FRA only applies to 'common parts' of flats). If you don't mind me saying so James, you need a lawyer mate, not a fire safety consultant. Good luck