Living in a flat with a baby brings a very particular pushchair problem: where does it go? A ground-floor hallway or landing looks like the obvious answer, especially when the alternative is carrying a folded pushchair up several flights. Fire guidance says otherwise. This article explains what London Fire Brigade and the fire safety leaflet for flats say about prams and buggies in communal areas, and offers practical alternatives. It covers England, where the legislation these documents refer to (the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022) applies. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements, which are not covered here.
What London Fire Brigade says
London Fire Brigade’s Guidance Note GN84, “Fires in Communal Areas” (version 3, August 2023), says all common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings are subject to the Fire Safety Order and the 2022 Regulations, which require the responsible person to take general fire precautions. It records that the Brigade’s fire investigators have attended incidents involving stored items such as prams, and says that in London during 2022 there were 281 fires that involved a communal area.
For residents, GN84 is direct. It says it is essential that escape routes are kept completely clear of items including furniture, prams, buggies, rubbish, clothes-drying facilities and bicycles, and that nothing should be allowed to accumulate that would hinder safe evacuation. It adds that before any items are stored in escape routes, agreement should be sought through the landlord and the fire risk assessment reviewed, and warns that failing to do so could lead to lease or tenancy terms being enforced.
What the flats leaflet says
The “Fire Safety in Flats” leaflet, hosted on GOV.UK, lists the responsibilities of the person in charge of the building: to carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the parts that are not private homes, to maintain adequate fire precautions, and to ensure escape routes are available, kept clear and maintained. For residents, it advises not to obstruct communal areas, stairs, corridors and landings, since these often form the fire escape routes, and not to store prams, bicycles or mobility scooters in communal areas without permission from the landlord or managing agent. It also advises against propping open fire doors.
Why a small buggy matters
GN84 includes case studies. One describes a small buggy set alight in the entrance lobby of a low-rise block; the Brigade notes there was very little additional fuel and that the damage to the ceiling, plasterwork, decor and electrics would have been expensive to repair. Another describes a baby buggy set alight on the ground floor of a common stairway, where smoke spread up the stairs and cut off the single staircase escape from the upper floors, so that 21 people needed to be assisted down by the Brigade. The Brigade notes that there had been a history of problems with the buggy being left on the ground floor because its owner had difficulty carrying it up to a top-floor flat. It is a very human problem, and one that GN84 does not dismiss.
Does the Equality Act change this?
Parents sometimes ask whether they have a right to leave a pushchair in a shared hallway. GN84 addresses it in relation to the Equality Act 2010: it says fire safety in multi-occupied residential buildings can be considered a legitimate aim, so the Act does not specifically allow storage of items such as prams and mobility scooters in common areas, nor does it override fire safety legislation. It says storage of any items in common parts must be considered as part of the fire risk assessment, and that specialist legal advice should be sought for the detail of how the Act applies. We are not offering legal advice here, but the guidance is clear on the principle.
Practical alternatives
These suggestions are our own rather than the Brigade’s:
- Ask first. Speak to your landlord or managing agent. The fire guidance says permission and a fire risk assessment review should come before storage in shared areas, and some buildings have a designated buggy store.
- Choose a compact fold. A pushchair that folds small and light is easier to carry up and keep inside your own front door. It is a solid reason to weigh portability alongside comfort when buying.
- Use a carrier for short trips. For quick outings, a baby carrier leaves the pushchair at home.
- Share with neighbours, sensibly. If several households are struggling, raise the issue with the managing agent as a group.
The bottom line
In England, fire guidance is clear that prams and buggies should not be left in shared hallways, stairwells or landings without permission and a fire risk assessment review. The safest habit is to keep the pushchair inside your own flat, choose a model that folds compactly, and talk to your landlord early if space is a problem.