Keeping communal areas clear and free of obstruction is very important.
It is important that communal areas are kept clear and free from rubbish or hazards at all times.
Communal staircases, landings and corridors provide access for emergency services in the event of a fire and an escape route for the safe evacuation of residents.
Items left in stairwells or corridors could become a hazard particularly in the event of a fire if the area was smoke filled or in darkness.
Customers living in blocks of flats with communal areas have a responsibility to keep the corridors, landing and stairwells clear at all times. These are not areas for storage of personal items, furniture or bags of rubbish awaiting disposal.
The following items should not be stored or placed in communal areas;
- Bikes or motor bikes
- Prams, buggies or pushchairs
- Children’s toys, bikes and scooters
- Recycling boxes, bags or bins
- Furniture, tables, cupboards or chairs
- Door mats or carpet
- Black bin bags and general rubbish
- Mobility scooters or other walking aids
We routinely inspect communal areas and remove items, with the costs recharged to individual residents if known or inlcuded as part of the annual service charge for residents within the block. We encourage residents to help us keep areas clear by reporting items left in communal areas.
To reduce fire risk, customers should ensure that communal doors and fire doors to individual flats are not wedged open and kept closed at all times.
Legislation from July 2007 prohibits smoking in common parts of domestic premises e.g. communal areas in a block. Enclosed communal areas of blocks of flats are now designated smoke-free premises.
Our priority is to ensure that communal areas are hazard free and together with residents within our blocks of flats and housing schemes, we effectively manage, monitor and minimise fire risk.
What should I do if there is a fire in my home?