Home · Communal Areas

Communal areas, on a rota.

Stairwells, lift cars, entrance halls and bin stores in blocks and shared buildings, worked to a building-wide schedule.

A clean communal hallway with tiled floor inside an apartment block

Shared space is judged by everybody.

Stairwells, lift cars, entrance halls and bin stores are the parts of a building every resident walks through and no single resident is responsible for. They are also the parts where a neglected week is noticed first.

Communal work runs to a building-wide rota rather than an ad-hoc call, so the standard does not depend on someone complaining. Access to each part of the building is agreed with whoever manages it.

AreaWhat is doneTypical frequency
Stairwells and landingsSteps and nosings, handrails, balustrades, corners, landings and lobby floorsWeekly or fortnightly
Lift cars and surroundsInterior panels, mirror, floor, tracks cleared of grit, door edgesWeekly or fortnightly
Entrance hallsFloor, door glass and furniture, matting lifted and cleared, letterplate areaWeekly or fortnightly
Letterbox and notice areasSurrounds, frames and the floor beneath, without moving residents' postWeekly or fortnightly
Bin stores and recyclingFloors, walls to hand height, bin exteriors, spillages dealt with on the visitWeekly or fortnightly
External communal pathsEntrance approaches and steps swept of litter and leavesFortnightly or monthly
High-level and periodicLight fittings, vents, ceilings to reach, and machine work on hard floorsMonthly or quarterly

Frequencies are indicative and set building by building. Where a managing agent or residents' committee sets the standard, we work to that document rather than to our own preference.

Indicative ranges

What communal work is priced on.

Priced per visit against the parts of the building on the rota and how often we attend.

  • Communal areasper visit · per block£140–195
  • Stairwell and hall onlyper visit£45–95
  • Lift car and entranceper visit£50–90
  • Periodic high-level detailper job£65–180

Tell us the premises and the tasks, and we put the scope and the figure in writing.