Communal area cleaning checklist

A printable pass/fail checklist for cleaning and checking the shared parts of a block of flats — the entrance, stairs and corridors, lifts, bin store and bike store.

Use one sheet per visit. As well as recording the clean, it gives cleaners a simple way to report the things they notice, such as a blocked fire exit or a wedged-open fire door.

Do this check in the app

Free to use and print. No sign-up needed.

Keeping communal areas safe (England)

  • Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, where necessary to keep people safe, the responsible person must ensure that routes to emergency exits, and the exits themselves, are kept clear at all times.
  • GOV.UK fire safety guidance, which covers the common areas of flats, gives examples of daily checks: escape routes clear of obstructions and combustible materials, doors on escape routes closing fully, and safety signs legible.
  • The guidance says waste should not be allowed to build up, and that outdoor wheeled bins should be secured in a compound so they cannot be moved next to the building and set alight.

General guidance from the official sources below, not legal advice.

Communal area cleaning checklist

Building:
Date:
Time in / out:
Cleaned by:
Floors covered:

Entrance and lobby

CheckPassFailNotes
Floor swept and mopped, mats shaken or vacuumed
Entrance door glass and handles cleaned
Post area tidy — no piles of leaflets or unclaimed parcels left on the floor
Lights working; any failed bulbs noted

Stairs and corridors

CheckPassFailNotes
Stairs and landings swept and mopped, handrails wiped
Corridors free of rubbish, furniture, bikes and other stored items
Fire doors closed — none wedged or propped openReport any damaged door or door closer.
Fire exit signs visible and not covered
Windows, sills and skirting dusted; no spills or trip hazards

Lifts

CheckPassFailNotes
Lift car floor, walls, mirror and buttons cleaned
Lift working normally — any fault reported to the managing agent

Bin store

CheckPassFailNotes
Bins inside the store, lids shut, store door closed or locked
No overflowing bins or bags on the floor; floor swept or hosed
Bulky waste or fly-tipping noted for removal
No signs of pests

Bike store and outside

CheckPassFailNotes
Bike store tidy, door secure; abandoned bikes noted
Paths and entrance steps clear of litter and leaves

If a check fails

  1. Clear what you safely can, such as rubbish on the stairs.
  2. Report anything you cannot fix — blocked fire exits, damaged fire doors, failed lights, lift faults, fly-tipping — to the managing agent the same day, with a photo.
  3. Note the issue and who you reported it to on the sheet.
  4. Check it has been dealt with on your next visit.
Signed:
Date reviewed:

Stop chasing paper sheets

Put a QR or NFC checkpoint in the lobby, on each landing and at the bin store. Cleaners scan in, complete the checklist and photograph problems, and you see every visit — and every missed one.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should communal areas be cleaned?

Set the frequency to suit how busy the building is and what has been agreed with the owner or residents. Whatever you choose, recording each clean on a dated sheet makes it easy to show the work was done.

Can residents leave bikes or prams in corridors?

GOV.UK fire safety guidance says escape routes need to be kept free of obstructions such as stored furniture, goods, equipment and rubbish. Whether anything can be kept in a corridor is a matter for the building’s fire risk assessment, so report items left in escape routes to the managing agent.

Why should cleaners check fire doors?

Cleaners walk the common parts more often than anyone else, so they are well placed to spot a fire door wedged open or a broken closer and report it. This does not replace any formal fire door checks the responsible person arranges.

Sources