# Common parts

The parts of a building that aren't let to any one leaseholder and are shared, such as the entrance hall, stairs, corridors, roof space, bin store and grounds.

Also called: retained parts, communal areas, shared areas.

Leases often call these the "retained parts", because the landlord keeps them rather than letting them. Whoever manages the building (the landlord, an RTM company or a residents' management company) usually maintains them, and their costs go into the [service charge](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/service-charge).

## Legal duties that attach to them

- **Fire safety:** the Fire Safety Order applies to the common parts, and to the structure, external walls and flat entrance doors of blocks of flats. Someone must be the [responsible person](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/responsible-person) and keep a [fire risk assessment](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/fire-risk-assessment).
- **Asbestos:** the duty to manage asbestos applies to the common parts of blocks of flats (not inside the flats).
- **Health and safety:** the common parts must be kept reasonably safe for people using them, including visitors and contractors.

Check your leases: sometimes balconies, gardens or parking spaces belong to particular flats rather than being shared.

## Related terms

- [Demised premises](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/demised-premises)
- [Responsible person (fire safety)](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/responsible-person)
- [Fire risk assessment](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/fire-risk-assessment)
- [Service charge](https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/service-charge)

## Sources

- [Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, art 6 (application to common parts and flat entrance doors)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/article/6)
- [HSE: The duty to manage asbestos (common parts of flats)](https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/duty/index.htm)

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Updated 22 October 2026. Source: https://runyourblock.co.uk/glossary/common-parts