1. Introduction
1.1 Norwich City Council is committed to ensuring that all communal areas in our housing blocks and estates are well-kept, meet all regulatory requirements and are safe for use.
1.2 This policy assumes Norwich City Council has adopted a zero-tolerance to obstructions and hazards in our communal areas approach to safety.
1.3 This policy outlines the actions and measures Norwich City Council will take to ensure communal areas are free from obstruction or hazards to protect the health and safety of our tenants, leaseholders, visitors, employees, and contractors.
1.4 This policy outlines the measures Norwich City Council will take to ensure communal areas are free from impedance to allow access by emergency services in the event of an emergency.
1.5 Norwich City Council defines communal areas as parts of a housing estate or block that are shared. These are areas that tenants have the right to use in common with other tenants, and which we, as a landlord and freeholder are responsible, these include but are not limited to:
- Communal entrances
- Communal landings
- Communal lounges (sheltered housing only)
- Communal kitchen (sheltered housing only)
- Any shared stairwell, balcony, or access path
- Communal gardens
- Communal parking areas
- Bin stores
- Drying areas
- Any cupboard area or loft located in a communal area.
1.6 The policy applies to the following persons:
- Tenants of Norwich City Council
- Leaseholders
- Leaseholder tenants
- Housing association tenants in Norwich City Council blocks and estates
- Anyone who visits or lives with any of the above
- The policy applies to general needs and sheltered housing
1.7 Our Tenancy and Leasehold Agreements state that communal areas do not form part of an individual’s tenancy and communal areas may not be used for additional storage. There is an expectation that anyone living in our properties is required to keep communal areas clear.
2. Relevant legislation
2.1 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982
2.2 Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977
2.3 The Building Regulations 2000 Approved Document B (Fire Safety)
2.4 Housing Act 2004
2.5 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
2.6 The Building Regulations 2010
2.7 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
2.8 Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
3. Policy details
3.1 Items in communal areas present a danger to tenants, leaseholders, staff, visitors, and the emergency services. In the event of an emergency, items in communal areas may prevent emergency services from access to our properties and can cause hindrance should an evacuation become necessary.
3.2 We will work with our tenants and leaseholders to keep our communal areas safe. We will provide signage in our communal areas with details of our communal policy. This will include fire safety advice, and details on how to report concerns to us.
3.3 We will ensure communal areas are a sterile environment and will not permit the storage of items in any part of the communal area, including stairwells, corridors, landings and beneath stairs.
3.4 We will ensure communal gardens and green spaces are kept clear of items that may cause injury, hazard, or constitute a fire risk, and those that may cause a nuisance to other residents by their use.
3.5 We understand that children may be attracted to items that may constitute a danger and will remove these items as a priority.
3.6 We will take a proactive approach to keep areas safe and will take enforcement action against persons where necessary.
3.7 Where items are stored in a communal area and do not present an immediate risk or hindrance, we will issue a warning (Miscellaneous Provisions Notice) prior to removal.
3.8 We will remove items without warning when they present an immediate danger to life, or where their presence may restrict or hinder access, especially in the event of an emergency or evacuation.
3.9 Where the removal of an item may cause hindrance or burden to the owner, for example a wheelchair, pushchair, or mobility scooter; we will attempt to identify the owner/s prior to taking any action, unless the presence of the item constitutes an immediate risk.
3.10 Items of a perishable nature, or those that we deem to hold no value will be removal and subject to disposal.
3.11 Items that we deem to be of value will be removed and kept in storage for 28-days.
3.12 Items which have not been collected within the 28-day storage period will be subject to disposal.
3.13 We will take a sustainable approach to the disposal of items. Items of value or which may be of use may be donated to local charities and organisations or used by the council in the process of our lettings and allocations schemes.
3.14 In line with our recharge procedure, a charge will be issued for any item removed from a communal area where the owner can be identified, or where we receive contact from the owner requesting a collection and/or return.
3.15 Examples of items we ask to be removed from communal areas are, but not limited to:
- Prams and pushchairs
- Mobility scooters
- Bicycles and electric bikes
- Motorcycles, scooters, and e-scooters
- Trampolines, slides, and swings
- Barbecues and wood stoves
- Plant pots, planters, and hanging baskets.
- Cardboard, plastic, and wood
- DIY material
- Door mats and shoe racks
- Sheds, storage containers, lockups
- Items of furniture
4. Review
4.1 We will review this policy to address legislative, regulatory, best practice or operational issues, otherwise every 3 years.
Published: 20 September 2024
Next review date: 20 September 2027
