The communal areas can and will be used as an escape route from the building in the event of an emergency and it is the Management Company/Freeholder’s duty to ensure this escape route is kept clear of any obstructions or objects that may hinder an otherwise safe escape.

Whilst it is an unlikely event, it is worth noting that should a fire break out within your building, then the communal areas are likely to fill with thick black smoke, making the whole area very dark with poor visibility; whether it is a burning hot bicycle, the glass shards from a heat smashed picture frame or just the curled up edges of a door mat, any stored item holds the potential for injury or disorientation when visibility is low and panic is high.

For this reason it is vital that all Lessees/Residents living with a Block of flats remove any of their own items that they may be storing in the communal parts to help protect them and fellow neighbours in case the worse should happen.

For more information on ‘block’ issues please call the Property Fusion Team on 01273 917790.