Being a good neighbour in a block of flats

Living in a flat means sharing walls, floors, stairs and bills with other people. A few simple habits go a long way for everyone in the building, and most of them are also in your lease. If you are moving from a house, these are the things worth knowing.

Water leaks

More insurance claims in blocks of flats come from escaping water than from anything else, and the water usually ends up in the flat below. Find your stopcock now, before you need it. If you are going away for more than a couple of days, turn the water off. Make sure a neighbour or your managing agent knows how to reach you or a keyholder in an emergency.

Fire safety

• Keep landings, corridors and stairs completely clear. Bikes, prams, shoes and rubbish bags get in the way of people escaping and can feed a fire.
• Do not store anything in meter cupboards or other shared cupboards.
• Do not charge e-bikes or e-scooters in shared areas.
• Do not use a barbecue on a balcony, or keep gas cylinders, petrol or paraffin heaters in your flat or on a balcony.
• Read the fire action notice in your building, so that you know whether the advice is to stay put or to leave.
• If your front door opens on to a shared corridor or staircase, it is almost certainly a fire door. Never remove the closer or alter the door without consent.

Our fire safety in flats guide has more.

Noise and flooring

More neighbour disputes start with noise than with anything else. Let people know before a party, DIY or building work, and keep noisy jobs to reasonable hours. Hard floors such as wood, laminate and tiles carry sound to the flat below. Many leases require carpet for that reason, so check before you change a floor covering.

Rubbish and security

• Use the right bins, follow the recycling rules and do not leave bags next to full bins.
• Arrange a council collection for furniture and appliances. Bulky items left in the bin store have to be removed at everyone’s expense.
• Make sure the main entrance door closes behind you, and do not let in anyone you do not know.
• Report a faulty door or entry system as soon as you notice it.

Pets, alterations and subletting

Most leases require the landlord’s or management company’s consent before you keep a pet, alter your flat or let it to a tenant. Ask first. Missing consents cause delays and extra cost when you come to sell. If you do let your flat, give your managing agent your own contact details and your tenant’s, and make sure the tenant knows the rules. You remain responsible for how they behave.

The same goes for satellite dishes and loft space. Most leases do not allow your own dish, and the loft above a top-floor flat often does not belong to the flat.

Insurance and being away

The landlord insures the building, and you pay a share through the service charge. That policy does not cover your belongings, so take out contents insurance and check that it covers damage your flat might cause to a neighbour’s. If your flat will be empty for 30 days or more, tell your managing agent, because the buildings insurer usually needs to know. A claim for damage while the flat was empty may otherwise be refused.

Gas and electrics

Have a gas boiler serviced every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Have the wiring in your flat checked by a qualified electrician if it has not been tested for ten years or more. If you let your flat, a gas safety check every year and an electrical inspection at least every five years are legal requirements.

Parking

Use your own space and tell visitors where they can park. Our guide to parking problems covers what can be done when it goes wrong.

Service charges

Pay your service charge on time. It pays for the insurance, cleaning, repairs and safety checks that the whole building relies on, and late payment by a few owners can hold up work for everyone.

Get involved

If your building is run by a Residents’ Management Company, it needs volunteers to act as directors. It is the best way to have a say in how your home is looked after.

If there is a problem

Get to know your neighbours before anything goes wrong. A friendly word solves most things. If it does not, our guide to antisocial behaviour sets out the next steps. To report a repair or a problem in a shared area at a development we manage, use butlins.fixflo.com.

This article is general guidance based on the law in England in October 2026. It is not legal advice. Your lease or transfer deed always comes first, so check it, and take professional advice on anything in dispute. You will find more answers in our FAQs.