Working from home has become part of daily life for many of us, whether full-time or just a couple of days a week. For those living in flats, that means turning a space that was never really designed as an office into a place where you can focus, be productive, and still feel comfortable.
But while we tend to think about working from home in terms of desk set-ups and ergonomic chairs, there’s another layer that often goes unnoticed, which is how well the building itself is looked after. The state of communal areas and the quality of maintenance can have a surprising impact on your home working day.
Comfort starts with your own space
So, if we start with the obvious and think about how we can carve out a comfortable spot to work from. Not everyone has the luxury of a spare room, so a kitchen table, corner of the living room, or even a well positioned fold down desk can make all the difference.
Think about:
- Light: Natural light boosts mood and concentration. Position yourself near a window if you can, or invest in a daylight lamp to fight that mid-afternoon slump.
- Seating: Even if you’re short on space, try to avoid working from the sofa. A supportive chair prevents back and neck pain, and helps you mentally separate ‘work’ from ‘relaxation.’
- Storage: Clutter quickly builds up when your home is also your office. Boxes that tuck neatly under tables, or shelving that doubles as décor, can keep things tidy without eating into floor space.
- Zoning: If possible, define your work zone with a rug or a change in lighting. This creates a mental boundary that when you step away, you’re “home” again, even if you’ve only moved a metre.
Small tweaks like these don’t just make working hours easier, they help protect your downtime too.
When the building works against you
Of course, no matter how beautifully set up your workspace is, problems in the wider building can undo all that effort. Communal maintenance, or lack of it, has a direct effect on those trying to work from home.
- Noise from repairs: Essential works like fire safety upgrades, lift servicing, or roof repairs are often unavoidable. But drilling and hammering right outside your flat during a Teams call can be incredibly disruptive. Good managing agents will give notice, and residents can plan around it, but poor communication leaves home workers feeling powerless and frustrated.
- Heating and hot water failures: If you’re home all day, you notice these breakdowns immediately. A communal boiler going offline isn’t just inconvenient, it can mean working in a freezing flat while waiting for emergency engineers.
- Connectivity issues: In some blocks, broadband cabling runs through communal areas. If these aren’t maintained or are damaged during works, residents can suddenly find themselves offline, which is a nightmare if you rely on video calls or cloud systems.
- Cleanliness and safety: Working from home makes you more aware of your surroundings. Walking through a dirty lobby on your way to grab a quick coffee, or noticing broken lights in stairwells when you nip out in the evening, can create a low-level sense of stress. It chips away at that feeling of being in a safe, cared-for environment.
The importance of communication
No building can be problem free, but the key lies in communication. When residents know what’s happening and why, they can prepare. A simple email warning about noisy works, or a clear update on repair timescales, can take the sting out of disruption.
For those working from home, that information isn’t just useful, it’s essential and It helps you plan calls, manage your workload, and avoid feeling blindsided by interruptions you can’t control.
Creating a supportive home-work environment
So, what can those living in flats do to make WFH smoother, even when communal issues crop up?
- Stay connected with your managing agent or landlord. Don’t be afraid to flag when repairs affect your ability to work. It helps them understand the human impact behind maintenance decisions.
- Invest in small back-ups. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot or a noise-cancelling headset can save the day when things go wrong.
- Use breaks to step away. If works are noisy, plan an outdoor coffee break or short walk. Sometimes it’s easier to lean into the disruption rather than fight it.
- Create comfort where you can. A good chair, decent lighting, and a tidy space won’t solve building-wide problems, but they’ll make your own environment calmer and more resilient.
Ultimately, working from a flat is about balance. You need a comfortable, personal set-up inside your four walls, but you also rely on the unseen work happening outside them. Regular cleaning, timely repairs, and well planned maintenance aren’t just about bricks and mortar, they directly affect quality of life for those who live and now work in these buildings.
When communal spaces are cared for, residents feel cared for too. And for anyone spending eight hours a day at their kitchen table, that sense of security and pride in your surroundings makes all the difference.
