Guide · Renting and leases
Shared Spaces in Buildings
A friendly, practical guide to hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, elevators, mailrooms and trash rooms, so everyone in the building stays safe and feels at home.
Where to start
- Smell smoke or see a fire?
Get out and call 911 from outside. See if there is a building emergency.
- New to the building?
Work through the shared space habits.
- Own or run a building?
The short version
The spaces we share are part of everyone’s home, and a little care from each person keeps a building safe and welcoming.
Keep hallways, stairwells and exits clear, and let fire doors and entry doors close behind you every time.
Move laundry promptly, take trash to the bin, keep pets close and keep voices low in hallways.
In a fire, use the stairs, close doors behind you, and call 911 from outside. Share broken doors, lights and leaks right away.
Building rules differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Exits stay clear
Hallways, stairwells and doorways must stay clear so everyone can get out quickly in an emergency.
- 2Fire doors stay closed
Fire doors slow smoke and fire. Never prop them open or block them from closing.
- 3Building doors close behind you
Don’t prop entry doors, and don’t let strangers follow you in.
- 4Leave it better than you found it
Clean up spills, take trash all the way to the bin and move laundry promptly.
If there is a building emergency
- If you discover a fire or smell smoke, pull the fire alarm if there is one, get out and call 911 from outside.
- Use the stairs, never the elevator, and close doors behind you as you leave.
- If smoke blocks your exit, stay in your home, close the door, seal gaps with towels and call 911 to tell them where you are.
- For a flood, gas smell or other emergency, leave if it is unsafe and call for help.
- Once everyone is safe, take photos and note what you saw.
- Share what happened with the owner or manager right away.
You did exactly the right thing.
Caring for common areas
- Keep hallways, stairwells and exits clear, well lit and in good repair.
- Make sure fire doors close and latch on their own, and that exit signs and emergency lights work.
- Post simple house rules for laundry rooms, trash rooms, mailrooms and common areas.
- Provide clear places for bikes, strollers, packages and recycling, so hallways stay clear.
- Share the building’s emergency plan, where to meet outside, and who to call with problems.
- Treat broken entry doors, fire doors that don’t close, and blocked exits as urgent.
A short, friendly welcome note about shared spaces, with a simple map of exits, laundry and trash rooms, helps new residents fit in from day one.
Guides that go well with this one
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Move-In Checklist Workbook
Simple, step by step checklists you can write in for moving in: the move in walk, moving day, your first week, utilities, keys and more.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFTake it with you
- Roommates and Neighbors Checklist PackThe Roommates and Neighbors checklists in one pack, fillable on screen or printable.See it in the shop
More guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or safety-code advice. Always follow your building’s emergency plan and local fire officials. Bunklow does not inspect properties or make repairs.