Can I clean my flats communal areas?

[Midlifephoenix]

I own a flat in a small building. We have just found out, after complaining, that the agents are paying £25 for ten minutes a week cleaning of the hallway and communal - one flight - stairs. And they are barely there for 5 min and do an awful job. Does anyone know if I can just do this myself, unpaid, or will I have to insure myself? The other flat owner is on board but I want to know if I injure myself (by falling down the stairs for example) what are the consequences for me and the other owner?

Ask the agents to change cleaners.

Surely you could fall downstairs any time, whether cleaning it or not, so the insurance is no different to what it would be as a resident? You wouldn't need to involve the cleaning aspect. Either clean it without overthinking or complain and get them to hire better cleaners. The latter makes best sense by far.

If you're doing it unpaid then I don't think there's an issue with insurance. If you were charging the other residents then there might be. Could you make a roster if everyone else is in agreement then it doesn't always fall to you?

Why not just ask the agent to change the cleaner? We had a similar issue and after complaints were made, the cleaning company was changed.

If you’re paying the agent to do it, I don’t know why you’d want to take it over yourself - they will still charge you for it.

Thanks. As for complsining: we have. The agents are awful. It's taken over a year to tell us what they are paying the cleaners. The communal area is small and we are happy to do it ourselves (not me, another owner has volunteered, I don't live there).

The issue with the insurance would be if you cock up something in the communal area whilst cleaning it - for example, ruin the carpet or something. However, this sounds almost impossible so... I reckon crack on.