If you live in a flat block, we have a responsibility to make sure that your means of escape, through communal corridors and hallways, can be used safely in the event of a fire.  

Please do not leave, store or dispose of any items in the communal areas of flat blocks. By ‘communal areas’ we mean any area from the main entrance doors to the front door of your individual flat. This includes hallways, corridors, stairs and stairwells, lift areas, lobbies and landings.  

Any items found in the communal areas, including buggies and prams, will be removed and stored without warning. We’ll charge £25 per item to reclaim removed possessions. Please note that low value items such as doormats will be thrown away.  

Doors  

Our flat blocks are fitted with fire safety doors, which are engineered safety devices and should never be tampered with. If you have any concerns about the reliability of your fire safety door, please contact housing repairs on 01202 123 200.  

For your safety and security, it is important to ensure that external doors and internal fire doors are kept closed. They should never be wedged open.  

In the event of a fire  

Please follow the fire safety information. It’s on the back of your flat door and in and around the communal areas of the block.  

Call 999 immediately and never presume someone else has called the fire brigade.  

Cleaning  

It’s important for all residents of flat blocks to understand that the internal cleans given to the communal areas of flat blocks are offered as supplementary to any cleaning the residents of the block can carry out.  

If you've spilt something in communal areas, it's important that you clean up after yourself, your family or visitors.   

Communal Gardens  

Our grounds maintenance team visit regularly to carry out routine maintenance. This includes grass cutting and pruning of shrubs. If you feel further work needs to be carried out in the grounds, please speak to an operative whilst they are maintaining the garden or call the repairs desk.  

So that the operatives can carry out their tasks, make sure that nothing is left on the grass in communal grounds. Call the tenancy advice team in the first instance if you wish to maintain an area yourselves.  

For health and safety purposes it’s important that nothing is left unattended in the grounds such as paddling pools, trampolines and other garden toys. These will be removed if found by one of our officers.  

Bin stores  

The storage areas provided for bins should be kept clear and accessible for all residents. Please use your bins as per the instructions from the waste and recycling department.  

If they have not been emptied as expected, you can report a missed bin collection online.  

Visitors to your property  

You’re responsible for the actions of all your family and your visitors to your home whilst they are in the communal areas of your flat block. This includes the outdoor space.  

Reporting  

Please do not presume another resident has reported something you are aware of in the grounds and internal areas. Flytipping and any repairs, maintenance or cleaning issues should be reported to the repairs desk. 

Any items left in communal areas, issues with other residents’ actions in or around the grounds should be reported to the tenancy advice team.