My flat is in a Victorian building. 4 floors over shops. At the rear there is a fire door which leads to the bottom of a Victorian fire escape. Down steps to a small yard leading to a large yard. This has been in use many times a day for all the 20 years I have owned the flat to access the bin area at the rear and it is a route out of the building in an emergency. This was in place long before I owned the flat and probably over 100 years in some form.
We have recently had all the rear barricaded and a gate with padlock erected with warnings that if we dare to access the large area the full force of the law will be used against us for trespassing by order of the owner of the land. Our managing agents have agreed with the 'Unknown' person and we are not allowed to go out of the door any more. The latest claim they make is that the fire exit was never our fire exit and in the demise of one of the shops, despite it being used by residents for years
Our only exit now is a front door with electric lock. The managing agent is looking at getting an electrician to look at the door to disable the lock in the event of fire as this is the only exit. I raised concerns that the door could lock in the event of power cut or fire thereby trapping residents. The fire procedure has been changed from stay put to evacuate though we do not know why. One of the shops below us is a restaurant. We have a fire alarm but it is not tested weekly , in fact I have never heard it tested in 20 years as the managing agents say it is unnecessary. I have requested information about the freeholder's implementation of new rules from the managing agents but they have refused to share it I have spoken to fire service but although they are very concerned the rep assigned to our building has had a heart attack and is off work. I would like to see a soliciter but do not have information as the managing agents are withholding it. Can you give me any advice on any of this ?
