Keeping communal areas clear to keep everyone safe
Find out why it's so important to keep communal areas free of obstruction
A recent fire in one of our high-rise buildings has highlighted how important it is to keep communal areas clear. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but the incident caused significant damage and disruption for customers living in the building.
When a fire or other emergency happens, corridors, stairwells and landings become vital escape routes. Keeping these areas clear helps people leave the building safely and allows emergency services to respond quickly when every second counts.
To help keep our buildings safe, we have a zero-tolerance approach to storing personal belongings in communal areas.
Why this matters
Communal areas are designed to provide safe access around the building and a clear route out in an emergency.
Our zero-tolerance approach means that personal belongings cannot be stored in any communal area. Communal areas include any shared space beyond your flat entrance door, such as:
- Corridors and landings
- Cubby holes near flat doors
- Balconies
- Loft spaces
- Cupboards, including utility, riser, gas and meter cupboards
Items left in these areas can increase the risk to everyone in the building. In the event of a fire, they can block escape routes, make it harder for emergency services to respond, and allow fire or smoke to spread more easily.
Even everyday items such as shoes, bikes, pushchairs, bags and boxes can quickly become a hazard during an emergency.
Keeping communal areas clear helps protect customers, visitors and emergency services, making our buildings safer for everyone.
How you can help
We all have a role to play in keeping our buildings safe.
Please don't leave personal belongings in corridors, stairwells, landings or any other communal areas. By keeping these spaces clear, you're helping to protect yourself, your neighbours and everyone who lives in the building.
We take building safety seriously and are committed to keeping communal areas free from hazards. Thank you for your support and for helping us keep our homes and communities safe.
