Convincing neighbours to clean

Julia123 · 2016-03-02T12:05:09+01:00

Struggling with messy common areas in your Malta apartment? Discover practical tips to persuade neighbors to clean and keep your living space healthy.

Julia123 Member

Member since 16 January 2014

Julia123Member02 March 2016 10:05:09

Hello,
I searched the forum and didn't find a similar topic - hence, a new one.

I have a problem at the block of apartments where I am living - neighbours and building administrator don't want to clean common areas. The place is so filthy, it's like a garbage bin and nobody cares.

Personally - when I got too fed up, I hired a cleaning company myself and paid for their services, I am also cleaning the lift myself almost weekly and I also clean up my own floor. Mind you - I have a full-time job and my own life to take care of! The entrance and stairs and floors in the rest of the building are littered with all sorts of trash.

All tenants are working adults, relatively young, the budget for the cleaning was discussed (and paid) and some sporadic cleaning was done throughout the year. But it was done ONLY after my and only my insistence that it's disgusting (there were cockroaches in summer). One guy even refused to pay for cleaning and said women can do it and he'll ask his mom to clean his floor. I also saw someone else's elderly mother cleaning their floor.

It's beyond my understanding... Just last week, I contacted building administrator again about cleaning - and she said that it's too expensive (30 euros for 4 hours of work for 5 floors - is this expensive?! Divided by 5 flats?).

Any advice about how to convince neighbours that filth is disgusting and unhealthy is highly appreciated. I just can't handle this any more.

Cheers,

Nange Serial expat

Member since 20 December 2014

NangeSerial expat02 March 2016 11:25:02

222

I would start by piling everything up in front of that guy's door. Then have a conversation with his mother about how badly she raised her son.

tearnet ViP

Member since 19 June 2011

tearnetViP02 March 2016 12:47:08

2179

If you rent its the landlords responsibility ( just add 鈧�6 to the monthly rent)聽 if you own then form a residents association and charge a yearly maintenance fee.

Terry

Julia123 Member

Member since 16 January 2014

Julia123Member02 March 2016 13:04:09

I own the place. I pay maintenance fees but administrator is refusing to provide receipts. She actually gets really mad when someone is asking for receipts, which I don't get also, since all her spending is apparently legitimate, she is not cutting corners from what I understand - there were indeed some small repairs and maintenance and handyman was paid for that.

Residents association - my understanding is that you need majority to sign. There was once again ignorance and only empty talk. I drafted agreement, regulations, did research about how to do it - all in vain, silence in response. I would've done it myself, but I can't really because of signatures.

Another thing is that association doesn't guarantee that people will follow the rules - there is no enforcement.

Malta health authorities would be my final measure but I am considering it. I can imagine it will generate a scandal in the condo and a lot of hatred against me.

tearnet ViP

Member since 19 June 2011

tearnetViP02 March 2016 13:40:20

2179

If you pay a maintenance fee then the administrator is your employee.

I would check your purchase agreement and if maintenance is part of the sale agreement get a solicitor involved.

A letter informing him/her of their obligation in law may be enough.

Terry