Man Baffled By Something ‘Odd’ in Apartment Building: ‘Is This Legal?’

A Connecticut man has drawn attention online after sharing photos of what he described as an unusual feature inside his apartment building: snow blowing directly into interior hallways.

Reddit user Z00ted-45 said he has lived in the converted factory-style building for several months without issues inside his unit. The common areas are another story.

The photos show a long, open-air corridor lined with apartment doors and red metal railings. Footprints are pressed into a layer of fresh snow that stretches down the length of the hallway.

Open to the Elements

Another image shows snow piled at the base of a stairwell beneath a large industrial-style window with only a screen covering it.

A third shot captures exposed wooden beams and sections of roofing above that appear partially open, allowing wind and snow to drift inside.

“The windows in the hallways only have screens, so there’s nothing protecting against outside elements,” the original poster (OP) wrote.

He added that the ceiling, “isn’t fully enclosed,” leading to harsh drafts and snow falling into the hallway.

“We live up north in a pretty cold climate, so this seems strange to me,” he said, asking whether management is required to keep hallways weatherproofed.

Among more than 400 Reddit comments, a contributor replied, “It depends state to state, technically this could be labeled as an outdoors space. As long as your unit stays above 60 [degrees Fahrenheit or 15 degrees Celsius], they’re usually good.”

Another pundit asked, “What happens when it rains? At the very least, they should be treating the stairs and walkways with salt/sand.”

User Z00ted-45 responded, “When it rains it’s the same thing a lot of water on the stairs and the hallways. [Laugh out loud], they definitely do not salt the stairs and the hallways.”

A fellow commenter advised, “This should be treated by the building owner and property management no differently than sidewalks and stoops providing access for tenants to their homes.”

Guidance for Landlords

Guidance for landlords during winter months often addresses snow and ice removal in shared spaces.

According to a winter maintenance checklist published by City Building Owners, property owners should, “Position high-quality mats inside and outside the building to reduce slip and fall hazards.

“Keep warning signs on hand to alert tenants and visitors to wet surfaces.”

The same checklist advises owners to, “Arrange for snow removal. Make sure you have a plan for removing snow and ice from sidewalks in a timely manner.”