Keep it clear:

fire safety in communal areas and blocks

Your safety is our priority. This includes looking after our buildings in a way that reduces risk and training our employees on fire safety.

Areas in blocks of flats need to be especially well managed and this includes indoor and outdoor communal areas as well as escape routes in corridors, lobbies and stairwells. Items stored in these areas create a real fire risk, so for your safety these areas need to be completely clear. Our partners at West Midlands Fire Service and the London Fire Brigade have told us that this is the best way to manage fire safety in communal areas in our buildings.

Frequently asked questions

What needs to be removed?

Please be sure to remove any items you have stored in hallways or communal areas to prevent them from being removed by Orbit. This includes obstacles such as rubbish, bikes, furniture, plants, pushchairs and scooters, but does not include doormats.

What happens if belongings are left?

Our employees and contractors will try to contact the owner of any goods left in the communal areas and ask them to remove the items. If there is an immediate health and safety risk, goods will have to be removed within 24 hours. This could include things such as paint, solvents and gas canisters. All other goods will be removed after the 14 day notice period has expired. Low value items (goods estimated to be less than £300) will be removed and disposed of.

More valuable goods will be removed and stored for a further 14 days. You may collect these goods during the 14 day storage period and will be charged for their removal and storage. After this, the items will be disposed of. The owner of any disposed of goods will be charged for their removal and disposal. If we are not able to find out who owns the items, the costs will be split amongst everyone in the building and recharged to as part of your service charges, so please help us keep these areas clear.

Our Property Managers are working to identify locations for customers to store their bikes and scooters. Please let us know if you wish to have access to these storage facilities so that we can arrange this for you.

Is it fair that I would be recharged (through my service charges) for storing my neighbour’s goods?

We will always try hard to determine who the owner is. However, if we aren’t able to do so and as a last resort, the costs will recharged as part of your service charges, so please help us keep these areas clear. We need you to keep an eye on what’s happening in your building and let us know if you see anything disposed of incorrectly. For more information on how to properly dispose of bulky waste, please visit: rubbish and refuse page

I don’t have any room in my home to store my mobility scooter, wheelchair and/or bike and have always stored in the hallway with no issues previously. Does this mean I’m okay to leave it there?

Unfortunately we need all hallways and corridors to be completely clear and this includes storing or charging electrically powered mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs. This is because research has shown that a fire with a single mobility scooter can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees celsius in less than eight minutes. They also create a substantial risk to occupants since the smoke and heat will block escape routes and put at risk anyone who opens their doors. If you’re struggling to find a place to store these items, please let us know as soon as possible and we will work with you to help find a solution.