City Housing High Rise Window Cleaning Proposal

Overview

Introduction

Birmingham City Council, City Housing team is seeking your views on a proposal to introduce a window cleaning services to our high rise tower blocks. 

This consultation is being carried out to understand the views and tenants and leaseholders to ensure that any decision reflects the needs, priorities, and affordability considerations of residents.

The proposal would apply to all 203 high rise blocks owned and managed by Birmingham City Council, including both tenants and leaseholders.

What changes are proposed?

We are proposing to introduce an external window cleaning service, which would include:

- Cleaning of external windows to individual homes and communal areas

- A planned programme of cleaning (currently proposed annually)

- Delivery via a specialist contractor using appropriate access equipment (e.g. cradle or abseil systems depending on the building)

Why do we want to do this?

We want to improve the cleanliness and local environment for our tenants and leaseholders.

We have received requests from some tenants, leaseholders and councillors about the possibility of introducing this service.

We want to ensure that windows are cleaned effectively, and this is not possible for some residents due to design restrictions.

We want to reduce potential safety risks associated with residents attempting to clean windows themselves

What are the options?

• Option A: No service
• Option B: Annual cleaning (proposed)
• Option C: Twice-yearly cleaning
• Option D: Don’t know
• Option E: No opinion / don’t mind

When will the changes happen?

Following consultation, if the proposal is approved this service would be implemented from April 2027.

What are the projected costs for this proposal and how will it be funded?

The final costs will be determined through a fair and competitive tendering process. Early comparisons suggest that the cost of providing an annual window cleaning service is likely to be between £0.50 and £1.50 per week.  If this service is introduced, it will be funded via service charges paid by tenants and leaseholders.

What are the financial impacts of the proposals?

If following consultation the proposal is accepted, tenants and leaseholders may see an increase in service charges from April 2027.

Will this definitely happen?

A decision on whether to go ahead with this proposal will only be made after the consultation has taken place.

What will happen if the proposal is rejected?

A high rise window cleaning service will not be delivered to tenants and leaseholders living in high rise blocks across the city if we receive objections from a high proportion of affected residents. There are no options for residents to arrange their own window cleaning due to the complexity and height.

What happens next?

This consultation will last for a period of four weeks.  Once the deadline expires the views and responses will be taken into consideration in the decision making process.

If the outcome of the consultation is to proceed with this proposal BCC City Housing will look to procure this service via a competitive tender process.

Survey Information

The survey will take no longer than five minutes to complete.