Keeping communal areas clear and safe
City Housing is responsible for making sure communal areas in high and low-rise flats meet fire safety requirements.
Items left in communal areas are a fire hazard. They can block escape routes and stop people leaving safely in an emergency.
Fire and Rescue Services warn that storing belongings in these spaces puts everyone at risk and can prevent firefighters from doing their job.
We have a zero-tolerance approach to fire hazards. If you have items in communal areas, remove them immediately.
These include but are not limited to:
- prams
- pushchairs
- bicycles or scooters (manual and electric)
- soft furnishings
- furniture or decorative items
- children’s toys
- shoes or other household items
We have produced an information booklet on keeping communal areas clear and safe.
The best way to look after yourselves and your possessions is to keep them inside your home.
Mobility scooters, e-bikes and e-scooters
Fire and Rescue Services have warned about a sharp rise in fires involving electric bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters.
These are now common ways to travel, but they must be stored and charged inside your home, not in communal areas.
If we find electric bikes or e-scooters in communal areas, we will remove them immediately without notice. They will be stored and you will need to pay to get them back.
If you cannot store a mobility scooter inside your flat, phone the contact centre on 0121 216 3030. We will help you look at alternative models or other storage options.
For more details, visit our mobility scooters and e-bikes page.
Page last updated: 14 November 2025
