Newham have teamed up with the London Fire Brigade to warn tenants of the dangers of cluttered hallways and communal areas, in the fight for fire prevention and safety.

Residents of council blocks are being asked to be more considerate towards their own and others safety when it comes to leaving hazards in stairwells, corridors and communal areas, that hinder escape routes in emergency situations.

Borough Commander of the London Fire Brigade in Newham, Wayne Brown, said: “Parking a pushchair or a bike outside your flat might seem like a practical solution but in the event of a fire it becomes a dangerous obstacle.”

The London Fire Brigades latest figures show that every day there is at least one blaze in a stairway or corridor. In 2013 alone the brigade was called to attend 514 fires in communal areas, which marks a 13% increase on 2012.

The storage of pushchairs, appliances, furniture and bikes in communal areas actually breaches the council tenancy conditions and lease agreements, however residents have reported that others store rubbish and even pets in the hallways of their buildings.

Councillor Andrew Baikie, mayoral advisor for housing and customer services, said: “We put residents’ safety above everything else and those residents that clutter communal areas with personal items create potential hazards for themselves and others. Before you place any items outside your property discuss it with your housing officer or landlord to try and find an alternative solution.”

Further advice on safety in blocks of flats can be found on Newham councils website www.newham.gov.uk/cluttercancostlives as well as the London Fire Brigade’s www.knowtheplan.co.uk/