Keeping Your Building Safe and Tidy

At GCHA, we want all residents to live in homes that are safe, clean and welcoming. Everyone has a part to play in keeping communal areas clear and making sure household waste is disposed of properly.

Shared spaces such as hallways, stairwells and entrance lobbies are not just everyday walkways — they are also important emergency escape routes. Keeping these areas clear helps residents leave the building safely in an emergency and allows firefighters or emergency services to reach homes quickly.

We operate a strict no-storage policy in communal areas. Please do not leave personal belongings or waste in shared spaces, including:

• Bicycles, scooters and e-bikes/e-scooters
• Prams, pushchairs and children’s toys
• Doormats, shoes and shoe racks
• Plants, furniture or household items
• Rubbish bags or unwanted items

Items left in communal areas can create fire risks, cause trip hazards, block escape routes and make it harder for emergency services to respond.

If items are left in communal areas, residents may receive a notice asking for them to be removed within 48 hours. If they are not removed, they may be disposed of to help keep the building safe.

All household waste must be disposed of responsibly. Household waste includes general rubbish, unwanted items, mattresses, furniture, electrical goods, garden waste and scrap metal.

Most household waste should be placed in the bins provided by your local council. Residents are expected to follow their council’s waste disposal guidance, including rules around recycling, bin collections and bulky waste.

For larger items such as sofas, fridges or mattresses, your local council may offer a bulky waste collection service. If an item cannot be collected by the council, it should be taken to a local recycling centre or removed by a registered waste collection company.

If you arrange for someone else to remove your waste, it is your responsibility to make sure they are legally permitted to take and dispose of it.

Please use a registered waste carrier and avoid leaving items with unlicensed individuals or companies. Waste that is not disposed of correctly can lead to fly-tipping and may result in enforcement action.

Leaving waste or personal items in the wrong place can:

• Increase fire risk
• Block emergency escape routes
• Create trip hazards
• Attract rodents and pests
• Cause health and safety concerns
• Make communal areas look untidy
• Create extra removal costs

Please do not leave rubbish outside front doors, in corridors, stairwells, entrance areas or any other communal space.

By keeping communal areas clear and disposing of waste correctly, you are helping to keep your home, neighbours and wider community safe.

If you have any questions or need to report an issue in a communal area, please contact GCHA.

01474 369830
general@gcha.org.uk