People not keeping communal areas of flats clean

[Betsyhilton]

I live in a block of 5 flats. They communal areas are cleaned once a week, but within a few hours of the cleaners leaving the place looks a mess again. People let their kids drop sweet wrappers and crisps on the floor, or walk through the area in mucky workboots, or carry bin bags down to the communal bins that are leaking. Not to mention leaving bikes and buggys directly under the sign saying personal items cannot be left in the communal area.
What is wrong with people that they cannot make even a minimal effort to keep a shared space reasonably clean.

Speak to the management company and ask whether someone could come out and check every day for a week, so they can actually see for themselves what you mean. The bikes and buggies represent a health and safety hazard, especially (for instance) if there was a fire and everyone had to evacuate the building at night in the dark because the stairwell lights had failed.

Our Management Agents are crap and we're getting rid of them as soon as their contract ends. They keep saying they will put up a notice reminding people to keep the lobby and stairs clean, but it never happens.

Do you ever have a meeting about the flats with the other owners? Can you raise it then? Gently at first to point out the health and safety issues and general cleanliness.