Why a Clean, Well-Lit Stairwell Matters in Your Edinburgh Tenement
Edinburgh Council is withdrawing its stair cleaning service from privately owned blocks. Here’s why clean, well-lit stairwells matter and how owners can organise their own.
If you own a flat in an Edinburgh tenement, the communal stair is the part of your building you use every day, and probably think about least. It’s your front door, your fire escape and your first impression for every visitor, delivery driver and potential buyer.
It’s also about to become more of your responsibility.
Big news for Edinburgh stair owners
The City of Edinburgh Council has written to owners to say it is withdrawing its stair cleaning service from privately owned blocks with no council tenants. The decision was approved by the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee on 25 August 2026. The Council says the service takes significant resources that could be better directed elsewhere.
If your block is covered, the Council will keep providing the service until your current contract ends. For many owners that is September 2027. After that, it’s up to you and your neighbours to decide who cleans the stair, how often, and who pays.
That may sound a long way off, but agreeing something between several owners can take months. Starting early means you can choose a service on your own terms instead of scrambling when the contract ends.
Why a clean stair is worth the effort
It’s safer. Grit, dust, leaves, water and clutter on worn stone steps are a slip and trip risk, and communal stairs often have tight turns and uneven treads. Regular cleaning also lets someone spot loose handrails, cracked treads and damaged flooring early, before they become an accident or an expensive repair.
It protects your property value. Buyers and surveyors notice the common parts. A grubby, neglected stair suggests a building that isn’t looked after, and that can put people off.
It’s better for health and neighbours. Stairs collect dust, litter and mud that get carried into every flat. A cleaned stair feels better to live in and prevents the usual disputes about whose turn it is to mop.
It keeps the building in good condition. Dirt and moisture build up and wear down flooring, paintwork and stonework. Regular cleaning is much cheaper than refurbishment.
Lighting: the other half of a safe stairwell
A clean stair you can’t see properly is still a hazard. Good communal lighting helps people avoid falls, makes residents feel safe coming home late and deters anyone who shouldn’t be in the building. It matters most for older residents, families with prams and anyone with limited vision.
Remember, owners are liable for any injuries to people within the stair due to poor stair lighting.
Since 2016, maintaining communal lighting in tenements has been the owners’ responsibility rather than the Council’s. Failed tubes and faulty fittings need a plan: someone to check regularly, replace tubes promptly and sort out electrical faults. Left alone, a dark landing can stay dark for months.
Your options as an owner
You don’t have to work this out alone. There is an alternative.
Organise it with your neighbours. Under One Roof is a Scottish charity offering free, impartial guidance for tenement owners on organising common repairs and your rights and responsibilities. It’s a good place to start if you need to get your neighbours on board.
Let a property factor handle it. Agreeing a rota, chasing payments and booking cleaners can be a lot of work for volunteers. A factor can take it off your hands.
Check out a Factor Comparison site. www.comparefactors.co.uk review possible factors in your area against an independent review site. Check the factors reviews.
How Edinburgh Block Management can help
We look after Edinburgh’s tenements and developments, and stair cleaning and lighting maintenance are part of what we do. Our cleaning visits are set according to the number of properties in your stair, and our lighting service covers annual maintenance plus tube replacement when it’s needed. We offer one annual fee with no monthly charges, so costs stay simple and predictable.
We also include an annual Roof Condition Report with gutter cleans and up to 20 slate repairs as standard, all within the annual fee.
You can find out more about our services at edinburghblockmanagement.com, or call us on 0131 510 9000 or email info@edinburghblockmanagement.com.
What to do next
Check your letter. Find out when your contract with the Council ends.
Talk to your neighbours now about what you want, how often the stair should be cleaned and who will organise it.
Check your lighting. Are all the bulbs working? Is anyone responsible for replacing them?
Get in touch. We’re happy to give your stair a no-obligation quote.
A clean, bright stair is one of the simplest ways to keep a tenement safe, pleasant and valuable. With the Council stepping back, now is the time to make sure yours stays that way.
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