Every neighbourhood, estates or housing schemes should be proud of how their landlords or property management company run and manage the development. The managing parties should be committed to working with residents and ensure that all communal areas are well asseverate and well-managed. However, the responsibility is split between and residents, leaseholders must be considerate of others and adhere to their tenancy or lease agreement and the duties outlined clearly. Never mind where the development is situated in Canary Wharf, London Bridge, the City or South East London, communal parts are important part and their habitants must take care of them at all times.
What is the definition for communal area?
Common parts are usually shared areas of land or residential property. They do not include the inside of private apartment/flat or a private garden. These can include:
Shared internal hallways, stairs, lobbies and entrances
Communal rooms plus other facilities (this might include loft space, electrical/storage cupboards, communal toilet facility and communal lounges)
Shared communal gardens
Bike stores or sheds
External shared walls
Shared parking areas
Bin Stores
Pathway
Grounds within the perimeter of the block
What is the resident duties?
Residents within the building should respect neighbourhood, estate or housing scheme and keep up with the responsibilities outlined in management company policies also tenancy or lease agreement to keep your community clean, safe and a happy place to live. The residents are firmly responsible for:
Being good and considerate
Being careful of any activity which may increase noise, nuisance or any disturbance to other residents living in the building.
Maintaining without exception communal areas, both internal and external, clean, neat and free from personal belongings.
When using the common parts, residents must clear away any personal property after use, must store everything within their own property.
Recycling and disposing of rubbish correctly within the designated bins
Home pets must be kept supervised at all times in communal areas, must follow Pets Policy.
Whilst parking to do so sensibly, responsibly and considerately when using the correct parking permit or intended parking place.
Compulsory “No Smoking” legislation in every internal communal areas.
Residents must not interfere with fire equipment these including smoke alarms, ventilation shafts and fire doors. Report promptly any faulty fire equipment.
Working with you in your neighbourhood
Every landlord or property management company are responsible to upkeep communal areas within the block and providing communal services, for an example estate services, which normally residents pay for through annual service charge. Some of the responsibilities of the managing parties:
Maintaining lighting facilities, replacing light bulb, checking emergencies lightings etc.
Not only maintaining but servicing all fire equipment, such as communal smoke alarms, CO2 alarms and other.
Working closely with councils and authorities to ensure that the correct waste disposal plus recycling facilities are provided.
Repairing, maintaining and replacing communal furniture
Pest control issues in communal areas problem solving.
Maintaining the roads and parking spaces
Rectifying and cleaning of graffiti in communal areas promptly.
Storing personal items or belongings in the common parts
The main rule and legal requirement is that all communal areas, both internal and external, must be kept clear from residents personal belongings. The landlord, the management company or housing association has the right to request to remove personal items. Failure to do so might result in penalties or items to be removed from the block. The following items are not permitted in any communal area:
Bikes, push chairs, barbeques, trolleys, furniture etc.
Any children’s equipment
Floor mats
Decorations
Following items must be stored in resident properties or only within designated storage facilities but strictly not in communal areas:
Children’s buggies, prams they could be hazard
Mobility scooters for disable residents
Children’s playing equipment
Advise: If residents does not have space to store personal items likes buggy, pram or mobility scooters within their own apartment, they have to request and speak to their Property Manager who will work with them closely to quick fix the problem.
Working closely with residents
Where residents should store their bikes?
Privately owned bicycles must not be stored in landings, hallways and other parts of the residential block. If available in your neighbourhood, estate or scheme, bicycles should be stockpiled only in bike store. Residents must speak to Neighbourhood or Property Manager for further help or assistance.
Ball games in communal areas?
Some property managers might permit ball games but only if provided in external communal parts as long as those activities are: considerate, do not cause damage, a nuisance to others or disturbance to residential property. All playing ball games must be supervised at all times. Where there is “No Ball Games” signs, these should be adhered to without exception.
Residents parties in the communal areas?
Residents living within the development should feel safe and secure at all times in their community, many property managements originally does not approve large gatherings of people to congregate in communal hallways or other parts. They might allow events organised to take place in our communal areas – but before hand these must be approved.
FAQ
Q: Can children play within internal or external communal areas?
A: Many landlords encourage their residents and their children to use and play within the communal areas perimeter, but it is important that guardians must take full responsibility for the children’s safety. Kids must be always supervised.
Q:My balcony is a part of my property, is it included within this policy?
A: As balconies have an insight on outside visitors or passers by, landlords might we ask residents to maintain their balcony tidy. Especially to avoid displaying of overhanging items on terraces, such as laundry, hanging baskets and other items. Whilst residents using their private balcony, they must be mindful of their neighbours living below or above, they must avoid not to cause damage, nuisance or spillage when watering plants, smoking etc.
Q: Pet allowed within the communal areas?
A: Property management discourage pets to reside or wander in any common parts, hallways, stairwell areas.
Q: Vehicles policy?
A: No abandoned vehicles, no untaxed vehicles
Q: Can I install a satellite dish?
A: Usually fittings of satellite dishes is not permitted. If residents would like to have a satellite dish fix, they must request permission for it.
