Recently, I found myself caught in the middle of a frustrating situation involving fire safety, blocked access, and a system that seems to protect businesses rather than the people affected by their actions. It all started when Franganos, a local restaurant, began blocking access to the entrance of my building with their vehicles. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a legal and safety issue.
The first step was to raise concerns through the proper channels. After multiple complaints, the fire department finally came to inspect the entire building. Their main focus was on fire safety compliance, ensuring that everything was up to code. They asked if I knew the fire escape plan (which I did), but their real concern was whether the building met the required safety standards. During their inspection, they also stopped by Franganos, which didn’t seem too happy about being under scrutiny.
Despite their visit, one thing became clear: the blocked access was considered a civil matter. This meant that while it was technically wrong for Franganos to obstruct access, it wasn’t something the fire department or the council could enforce. The irony of this situation is that if emergency services ever needed to get through and couldn’t because of those parked cars, it could have life-or-death consequences—but until something drastic happens, the authorities won’t intervene.
At the same time, the council identified issues within my flat that my landlord is responsible for. They stated that heat sensor alarms needed to be installed in both my living room and bedroom and that my flat’s entrance was also my landlord’s responsibility. This raised an important question: what exactly is the property manager doing? If they’re being paid to oversee the building, why weren’t these basic safety requirements already in place?
Meanwhile, Franganos made their stance clear: rather than move their vehicles or acknowledge their responsibility to provide proper access, they suggested that we should just go the long way around to enter our own homes. This is completely unacceptable, as they legally have a duty to provide right of way access. But, of course, since enforcing this is a civil matter, it falls on individuals like me to take expensive legal action—something most people simply can’t afford.
This entire situation highlights a bigger problem: the system is designed in a way that favours those with money and power. If you own property or a business, you can often ignore the rules because the only way to enforce them is through legal means, which is expensive and time-consuming. Meanwhile, tenants and everyday people are expected to just deal with the consequences, even when their safety is at risk.
For now, I’m waiting to see what, if anything, comes of the fire department’s inspection and the council’s findings. I plan to write more about this once everything is settled, but one thing is certain: this whole experience has exposed just how flawed the system really is. When the law is on your side but there’s no way to enforce it, does it even matter?
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