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Article Synopsis
This article looks at the reasons why residential block managers (and tenants) usually need the services of professional clearance companies more often than ordinary private homeowners.
There’s also a rundown of the services offered by ASAP Clearances, who operate in and around London, but can clear properties across the UK.
This article is a three- to four-minute read.
Block management clearances are a completely different beast compared with ordinary house clearances – and, if you live in a block of flats, you might find it useful to know what waste you are (and are not) allowed to put out. Here, ASAP Clearances explain the key points of difference, which are both legal and financial.
Block Management Clearing in Enfield from ASAP Clearances
At ASAP Clearances, we offer block management and commercial and residential clearance services across North London (although we can quote for any address in the UK). We pride ourselves on our professional, speedy service. Call us today on 020 3475 0508 to learn more.
Communal or Private Space?
With typical house clearances, the main focus is what’s inside the four walls of a single home – furniture, personal effects, and general clutter from kitchens, bedrooms, and lofts. However, some of the items earmarked for clearing can be in the garden – either structures such as sheds or fence panels, or unwanted or overgrown plants and vegetation.
Block management clearances typically focus on communal areas and shared land. This includes hallways and stairwells. Block management clearances can also involve removing items from shared gardens and car parks.The Principal Drivers
The main reasons for residential house clearances are to declutter the property, to renovate it, or to prepare it for sale. Many house clearances are carried out in properties where the owner has passed away, and the family want to put it on the market. The cost of this type of clearance is usually borne by the homeowner, and is usually a one-off service.
However, residential blocks need to be checked and cleared regularly over and above the regular collection of household waste, which local councils have a statutory duty to provide. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 mean that block managers have a statutory duty to keep all "means of escape", which includes hallways and stairwells, clear from any debris or rubbish.
A block management clearance is usually paid for by the freeholder or the managing agent; however, they may impose a service charge on tenants to cover the cost.
When Problems Arise
Ordinary household waste in residential blocks is usually stored in bins in a dedicated storage space, which the block manager has a duty to provide (and it must also be well maintained and properly lit).
However, councils will usually refuse to collect larger items (which won’t fit in bins) unless it’s by prior arrangement. Most offer a Bulky Waste Collection service (also called large item collection) for things too big for your regular bins, like old furniture, mattresses, and white goods such as fridges and washing machines.
You usually book and pay for this service online, and they collect the items from your property on a specific date, though you might need to place them at the kerb. This applies to both block management clearances and ordinary house clearances.
If you do put rubbish into the wrong bin, the council will often refuse to empty it until the “contamination” is removed.
Residential or Commercial Waste?
In many residential blocks, a lot of the occupants are tenants rather than owner-occupiers. If a tenant moves out and leaves a flat full of furniture, this is usually classified as commercial waste.
The landlord or manager must hire a private contractor to remove it; the council is not obliged to clear it as part of their standard household service, and the tenant may not be allowed to take it down to the local authority waste site. This is another reason why a block management clearance may be necessary.
These issues don’t arise if it’s a property owned by the occupant, because these types of unwanted items are classified as ordinary residential waste.
Block Management and House Clearances from ASAP Clearances
At ASAP Clearances, we are equally expert in carrying out block management or residential house clearances. For more information on the former, follow this link; and for the latter, click here.
We also provide complementary services, such as garden waste clearing (which can form part of a residential or a block management clearance), and commercial and building waste clearance. Click here and go to our ‘services’ tab to find the full list.
FAQS:
Q: Who is responsible for clearing a flat after a tenant leaves or passes away?
A: This is usually the responsibility of the individual unit owner (leaseholder) or their estate, not the block manager. The owner would hire a house clearance company to empty the flat. The block manager’s only involvement would be to ensure that the clearance team doesn't damage communal hallways, stairs or lifts during the move.
Q: Can a service charge cover clearing out a flat in a residential block?
A: No. Service charges are used for the upkeep of shared areas (roof, gardens, lifts). Private house clearances are a personal expense. However, if a resident leaves "fly-tipped" furniture in a communal hallway, the block manager may use the service charge to clear it – although they will often try to bill the responsible resident directly.
Q: What are the penalties for fly-tipping in a residential block?
A: Fly-tipping in a residential block is treated as a serious criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Penalties apply whether you dump the waste yourself or "knowingly permit" it to happen (for example, leaving a bag in a communal hallway).
Standard on-the-spot fines are usually between £400 and £1,000, depending on your local council's specific policy. Penalties can be more severe depending on the scale of the waste and if the initial fine isn’t paid within a specified time.
The fine is payable either by the person who dumped the rubbish, or, if this isn’t clear, by the block manager – although they will look to recoup the costs through the service charge.