Our caretaking team works hard to ensure that our internal and external communal areas remain clear and tidy. This not only keeps these spaces safe, and in some cases could save lives or prevent serious injury, but also ensures easy access for customers, visitors and the emergency services. Below, we’ve put together some useful information to make it easier for our everyone to keep communal areas clear, tidy and safe for all to enjoy.
Looking after your communal areas
It’s important to avoid leaving items such as doormats, bicycles, prams, etc in communal areas for a number of reasons including health and safety. Keeping communal areas clear prevents trip hazards, reduces fire risks and ensures that people can safely and quickly exit a building in the case of an emergency. It also ensures that items don’t obstruct fire and rescue services from getting into and through a building in an emergency.
Where it is necessary to do so, for example in sheltered housing, only our staff are allowed to put furniture, pictures and other items in communal areas for reasons of health and safety.
Our communal gardens should be tidy and safe spaces for all residents. This means that these areas should be kept free from items such as outdoor furniture, e.g. tables and chairs, unless they have been provided by Selwood Housing, as well as paddling pools, barbeques or bonfires. If you use your own chairs or tables they must be put away once you have finished using them; they must not be left in the communal garden.
Please be aware that we will remove any items left in communal areas, in some cases without a warning if it is dangerous, in line with our clear communal areas procedure. If we ask you to remove such items and you do not do so, you will be recharged for the cost of removing and disposing of them. The cost of this starts at £30, but could be higher depending on the number or size of the items. In some cases storage costs may also apply.
Be mindful and respectful of other people who also use the communal areas by keeping noise levels down, disposing of litter correctly, avoiding damage to property and garden features and cleaning up after pets.
If you would like to host an event in a communal area, please get in touch with us for approval first. If approved, we will let you know of any conditions you have to follow. To enquire about holding an event on Selwood Housing land please contact us on 01225 715 715 or at info@selwoodhousing.com.
For more information, read our clear communal area policy and our neighbourhood management policy.
