Clear communal areas

We want to keep you and your neighbours safe and can only do this with your help. If you live in a building where you share communal areas with other residents, you must make sure that you keep them clear of clutter and rubbish. Shared communal areas include stairways, lifts, landings and hallways. Please make sure you do not leave any items in these areas, including shoes, shoe racks, prams, pushchairs, bicycles, children’s toys, plant stands and door mats.

Fire and Rescue Services outline that storing belongings in these shared spaces can pose a real risk to everyone’s safety as it could stop you leaving the building and prevent the fire fighters from doing their job in an emergency. It’s important we all do what we can to prevent hazards which is why we have a zero-tolerance approach to items left in communal areas. This means we will remove any items found in communal areas, without warning, as they pose a hazard, and will dispose of them. You will not be able to get them back.

We regularly check communal areas in shared accommodation for general health and safety hazards.

Electric bikes and e-scooters

We recognise that electric bikes and e-scooters are becoming common modes of transport, and we request that these are stored and charged safely within your homes. They should be charged at the appropriate voltage with manufacturer approved leads and connections. Please do not leave charging overnight or leave it unsupervised when charging- only charge them when you're awake and at home. They should be placed on a hard surface, away from escape routes, in a room with a smoke alarm. If we see electric bikes or e-scooters in communal areas, they will be removed and disposed of immediately without prior notice. This is to keep all those living in the building safe. Click here to read more advice from the London Fire Brigade on e-Scooters and e-Bikes.

What you can do as a resident

If you live in a building where you share communal areas with other residents, your tenancy agreement or lease will state that you should not store items in communal areas and that we will treat any items left as a breach of your tenancy or lease. Communal areas include stairways, lifts, landings, hallways, and any other spaces that you share with other residents. It also includes service or meter cupboards in your building.

If you currently have items, including but not limited to prams, buggies, bicycles, plants, furniture, shoes or other household items, stored or left in these spaces, please remove them immediately.

Please also be mindful that uninvited visitors may be able to access communal areas and use or take items they find. The best way to look after your possessions is to keep them inside your home.

What we will do as the landlord

If we find any items in communal areas, we will remove them and throw them away which means you will no longer have access to them. We do not have the storage space to hold onto items for you. Your building has a TORT notice displayed in communal area/s to let you know the type of items that are commonly stored in these areas which should not be stored there. This list has some examples, but is not exhaustive. We have included a picture of what these notices look like below. If any TORT notices within blocks are found to be missing on inspection, we will replace them.

Let’s work together to keep you, your family and neighbours safe. We’ll ensure we follow through with our zero-tolerance approach to items we find in communal areas and you can help us by making sure you do not leave items in communal areas, even if it’s just temporarily.

For more information about ways to keep you and your home safe please click here. Alternatively, please contact our Fire Safety team on 0300 373 3000.

An example TORT notice

More information?

Download and read our Communal areas storage arrangement policy