Living in a flat or apartment
We want you to enjoy living in our homes whilst being safe. If you live in a flat or apartment it is important that you work with us and your neighbours to keep communal areas, clean, tidy and safe.
Keeping communal areas safe
Communal areas in your block include the stairs, stairwells, landing and corridors. These areas should be kept free of any items to avoid risks during an emergency or in the event of a fire.
More information on the items that can be kept in communal areas and how we keep the areas safe can be found here: fire safety in your home.
Compliance checks in communal areas
Your Housing Management Officer routinely checks the communal area in your block, they will report any repairs or maintenance issues and contact residents if they find items that are not allowed in these areas.
- High-rise blocks, six-storey blocks and retirement living scheme are checked weekly.
- All other blocks that have a communal entrance are inspected monthly.
Door entry systems
We provide door entry systems on blocks of flats and maisonettes for residents and their visitors to access the building. To keep the block safe, please do not:
- let someone you do not know into the building
- let visitors into the building for your neighbour
- ask your neighbours to let visitors in for you
- wedge the door open and leave it open for any reason.
If you let strangers into the building, you will reduce the security for yourself and everyone else living in the block.
Cleaning of communal areas
A cleaning service is provided for high-rise blocks, six-storey blocks and retirement living schemes.
In some low-rise blocks with a shared communal entrance, there is a two weekly cleaning service which is paid for through a service charge. We provide this service when residents do not want to clean the communal areas themselves.
For blocks who do not receive a cleaning service, we ask residents support with cleaning the communal areas such as corridors, hallways and entrances.