guide

Communal areas

Report cleaning, grounds, and tree problems in shared areas.

Last checked: 7 September 2026

Who this is for: All residents using shared estate areas.

Use resident services for routine estate upkeep. A dangerous tree or a damaged building component needs its own reporting route.

What do I need to do?

  1. For routine cleaning or grounds concerns, contact the resident-services officer through 0800 952 4444, 9am–5pm Monday to Friday. Southwark lists southhousing@southwark.gov.uk for the south team covering Dulwich. Ask it to confirm the officer for your address. Resident services.
  2. Describe the location and problem precisely: for example, an unclean stairwell, overflowing litter bin, or missed grounds task. Southwark publishes its cleaning schedule; use it when explaining a repeated omission.
  3. For a dangerous tree or branch, call 020 7525 5000. Report less urgent council-tree issues using the tree reporting page. Stay clear of hazards. The page distinguishes council-managed estate trees from private-garden trees.
  4. If plaster, doors, lighting, or other building components are damaged, use Report a repair instead of treating the issue only as cleaning.

What information will I need?

Give the location and dates, describe the issue, and include photographs taken safely and previous references. Ask who owns the next action and when you should expect an update. For a tree that has damaged property, Southwark advises contacting the relevant insurer. Tree damage guidance.

Can I plant, prune, or change a shared area?

Ask resident services for written permission and the applicable process before arranging work. Permission for changes to communal landscaping must be confirmed. Protected trees can require formal permission; check the council’s tree guidance.

Estate details still to confirm: site-specific upkeep schedule, public contact for the estate officer, permission process for resident planting, and hall booking/key arrangements.