Maintenance of common areas

All social housing landlords have a duty to maintain the communal areas in their buildings and grounds. Where a landlord does not properly maintain their communal areas residents have rights to complain and challenge the failure to properly maintain these areas.

Topics on this page


Maintenance of common areas

All social housing landlords have a duty to maintain the communal areas in their buildings and grounds. Where a landlord does not properly maintain their communal areas residents have rights to complain and challenge the failure to properly maintain these areas.

What is a landlord responsible for maintaining?

In communal areas:

  • lifts
  • doors and door entry systems
  • outside walls, doors, gates, windows, windowsills, window catches and window frames including external painting and external decoration
  • communal water tanks and associated supply pipework
  • communal heating systems and associated supply pipework and cabling
  • communal lighting systems and associated supply cabling
  • emergency exit signage and lighting
  • communal sprinkler and firefighting equipment
  • bin chutes, hoppers and storage chambers
  • grounds, hedges and trees
  • pathways, steps or other means of access
  • boundary walls and fences
  • paving and access roads that do not form part of the public highway
  • play areas
  • garage and storeshed blocks
  • communal bin storage facilities
  • car parking facilities

Was this article helpful?
YesNo