Our Estate

Explore the essential services and facilities of our estate, including parking permits, refuse collection, and estate cleaning, to ensure a pleasant and well-organised living environment for all residents.

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Estate Cleaning

Cowley RMO is committed to providing a high-quality estate cleaning service. You can help us improve our service by:

• Reporting incidents to the estate office
• Telling us your concerns regarding the estate cleaning
• Showing consideration for your neighbours by disposing of your household rubbish in the steel bins provided
• Treating employees of the RMO the same way you wish to be treated

Our Estate Cleaning Commitments

Parking Permits

All vehicles parked on the estate from Monday to Friday require a valid parking permit, enforced 24 hours a day, from 8 am Monday morning to 12 midnight Friday night. Vehicles without a valid permit will be ticketed. Restrictions are lifted on weekends and bank holidays.

Residents are entitled to a parking permit for each vehicle registered at their Cowley Estate home address, with a limit of two vehicles per household. Ensure your vehicle is registered and displays a valid permit to avoid penalties.

Visitor Parking Permits

Each Cowley household is entitled to purchase a maximum of 50 visitor parking permits per financial year, which runs from April 1st to March 31st the following year. Once you have reached the maximum amount of permits allowed, Cowley will not issue any additional visitor permits, and you will need to find alternative parking for your visitors.

Visitor parking permits can be used only once and will become void if more than one date is displayed. We will not refund or replace such permits.

You can purchase up to 10 visitor parking permits at a time. Once you have purchased 30 visitor permits in a year, we will send you a letter to advise you of this.

ALL residents are to attend the Cowley Office to purchase both visitors and resident parking permits, as they will no longer be given to family members or friends unless it has been discussed and agreed that a resident is unable to attend our office due to illness, disabilities or being over the age of 65.

Cowley would also like to add that both resident and visitor parking permits are only valid within the Cowley estate and not on the surrounding roads, e.g. Vassal Road and Normandy Road. Therefore, Cowley is not responsible for any penalty charge notices that are issued on any of the surrounding roads.

Residents Parking Permit

In order for Cowley to issue a resident parking permit, residents must first produce the following:

• A valid insurance document with the tenant as the named driver.
• A log book or V5 document displaying the Cowley address.
• Valid MOT that has at least six months ahead of the permit request date.
• Valid road tax that is at least six months ahead of the permit request date.

Please note that parking permits will be temporarily revoked if a tenant is in rent arrears for a week or more.

Please bring the above to the Cowley office, or if you are unable to come into the office, please email us at XDHSCowley1@lambeth.gov.uk.

In the exceptional circumstances that a temporary residents’ permit is issued to a tenant, i.e. renting a hire car for longer than three months, using a courtesy car or using a company car, all of the above is required along with a headed letter addressed to Cowley from the company that is providing the car giving confirmation of your use of the vehicle. The letter should also include:

• Your full name.
• Your address.
• Vehicle details.
• Duration of time for your use of the vehicle.

Please note that a maximum of 2 resident permits can be issued per household.

Elderly Resident Permits

The permit is issued to our elderly residents to give to their visitors to park on a temporary basis and to be returned back to the elderly person when the visit ends. The elderly residents’ permit is not to be used to park on a permanent basis and should not be stuck on the windscreen of vehicles in place of either resident or visitor permits.

Any residents, visitors or elderly permit that is issued and abused will result in the permit being revoked. This includes obstructive parking, i.e. blocking the entrance to the bike sheds, stairwells or bins, parking on the yellow hatch markings and parking in multiple bays.

Resident parking permit holders that use disabled bays must also display a valid disabled badge along with the resident permit.

Cowley hopes that this information is useful to all residents and are happy to answer any further questions. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Electric Powered Personal Vehicles (EPPVs) in Council Homes

Lambeth Council has introduced an Electric Powered Personal Vehicles (EPPV) policy to reduce fire risk in Council housing while supporting residents who rely on these devices for independence. EPPVs include mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, e-bikes and e-scooters.

In London, lithium-ion battery failures (including those used in e-bikes and e-scooters) are a fast-growing cause of serious fires. These fires can spread quickly, cause major property damage and put lives at risk. Because of this, fire safety will always take priority where risks cannot be safely managed.

Who this applies to

This guidance applies to Lambeth Council homes and housing stock, including leasehold properties and temporary accommodation. It is relevant to residents, visitors, Council staff and contractors who may store, use, move or charge EPPVs in or around Council housing.

The key rule

EPPVs must be stored and charged safely and must never block escape routes. If storage or charging arrangements create an unacceptable risk, the Council may take action to remove or disable the device.

If your home has communal areas (blocks of flats with shared corridors, lobbies or stairwells)

You must not store or charge EPPVs in any communal area, including:

• corridors
• stairwells
• lobbies
• shared entrances and landings

These areas form part of the building’s escape route. They must be kept clear at all times. EPPVs left in communal areas may be removed or disabled by the Council.

Any proposal for a communal EPPV storage or charging area must be formally fire risk assessed and approved by the Fire and Building Safety Team.

If your home does not have communal areas (no shared entrance/escape route)

Using and charging an EPPV inside your home may be acceptable if it is done safely and does not create obstruction or risk. In these homes, residents should follow strict safety steps for charging and storage.

Balconies

EPPVs must not be stored or charged on balconies, including e-bikes and e-scooters. Balconies are not fire-protected spaces, and lithium-ion battery fires can spread rapidly and increase risk to residents and the building.

Charging safety rules (applies to all EPPVs)

Charging is the highest-risk activity. Please follow these rules every time:

• Do not charge overnight.
• Do not charge unattended (stay nearby and alert).
• Charge strictly in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Only use manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers.
• Never use counterfeit, damaged or non-standard batteries/chargers.
• If you suspect a battery or charger is faulty, stop using it immediately and dispose of it safely.

Best practice when charging

• Plug chargers directly into a wall socket (avoid extension leads and adaptors where possible).
• Let batteries cool for 15–30 minutes after use before charging.
• Charge on a hard, non-combustible surface and keep it away from anything that could burn.
• Charge in a well-ventilated area.
• Where charging takes place, ensure appropriate smoke or heat detection is in place.

If you see smoke, overheating or signs of battery failure, call 999 immediately.

Storage safety

• Store EPPVs so they do not obstruct doors or any route out of the home/building.
• Keep EPPVs away from combustible items and on hard, non-combustible surfaces.
• If you live in a flat, make sure your entrance/fire door is in good condition and closes properly.

Maintenance and annual checks

Residents are responsible for keeping devices safe and in good working order. Lambeth Council expects each EPPV and its charger to have:

• an annual service by a qualified person, and
• a PAT (Portable Appliance Test) for the charger (where appropriate)

If there are safety concerns, the Council may request evidence of servicing and safety checks.

Charging points provided by the Council

Any Council-provided charging points will only be installed where they are purpose-built, fire-separated and approved by the Fire and Building Safety Team.

Fire risk assessments

Fire Risk Assessments for Council buildings will consider the presence, storage and charging of EPPVs. Any necessary actions will be recorded in the building’s fire safety plan, including specific arrangements for mobility scooter storage in sheltered or supported housing schemes.

Insurance and liability

Residents are strongly advised to arrange appropriate personal insurance for:

• fire damage
• theft
• personal liability

If an EPPV causes fire or damage, the owner may be held responsible for associated costs. Where relevant, costs may be recharged in line with the Council’s Recharge Policy.

Support and guidance

If you are unsure about safe storage or charging, contact your Housing Officer or the Fire and Building Safety Team for advice.

You can also use the London Fire Brigade’s Home Fire Safety Checker for additional guidance.

Enforcement

Where residents do not follow the rules, Lambeth Council may take action under tenancy or lease conditions. This can include removal or disabling of EPPVs that are stored or charged unsafely, especially where they obstruct escape routes or increase fire risk.

This summary is based on Lambeth Council’s Electric Powered Personal Vehicles (EPPV) Policy (Version 1.0, signed off 10 November 2025). [oai_citation:0‡Electric Powered Personal Vehicles (EPPV) Policy.docx]

Refuse Collection

Lambeth Council is responsible for clearing the estate refuse. Our collections are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please ensure you place your household waste in the steel bins provided and do not leave bags on communal walkways or outside the bin chambers since this affects the appearance of the estate and creates more work for your caretakers.

Bulk Refuse Collection

Bulk waste is collected on Wednesdays. A bulk item is a sofa, a bed, a mattress, and generally home furnishing.

The bulk refuse is collected from the bin chamber areas throughout the estate. We would appreciate if residents would place all bulky items in these enclosures just before the tipper arrives on collection days so the appearance of the estate is not affected.

Arrangements need to be made for the removal of electrical goods such as washing machines, TVs, and fridge freezers.

If you require an item to be collected from your property, we do levy a charge of £10.00 per item. Special rates apply for residents who are elderly and/or disabled. Please contact the estate office for details.

Recycling

All residents are encouraged to recycle their household waste as much as possible. There are a number of green recycling bins situated throughout the estate, so please ensure you make full use of them.

If you would like to recycle your waste but are unable to get to the recycle bins, please contact the estate office, and we will be happy to assist. If you would like more information regarding recycling please contact the estate office.

Estate Management Policy

We’re pleased to announce the release of the updated Estate Management and Neighbourhood Policy for 2024, as mandated by the local council. This crucial policy, which Cowley Estate is bound to follow, serves as the foundation for our community standards and practices. It encompasses key areas such as property management, the responsibilities of residents, and the various initiatives aimed at fostering a supportive and dynamic neighbourhood.

This document is essential for everyone within the Cowley Estate community, providing a clear framework for ensuring a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all residents. It reflects our collective commitment to upholding the highest standards of community living, as set forth by the local council.

To understand more about how this policy directly affects you and our community, read the full document here.

Let’s work together in accordance with these guidelines to maintain the quality and integrity of our community, making Cowley Estate an even better place to call home.

Tree Management Policy

We’re pleased to share Lambeth Council’s updated Tree Management Policy, which sets out how trees on council-owned land are cared for and maintained. This policy provides essential guidance for residents, including when and why trees may be pruned or removed, how concerns about safety or damage are handled, and what your rights and responsibilities are regarding trees near your property.

Trees are a vital part of our environment, offering countless benefits—from improving air quality to supporting wildlife and enhancing wellbeing. This policy ensures those benefits are protected while setting out clear, fair procedures for managing risks, resolving disputes, and maintaining public safety.

To learn more about what the policy covers and how it affects you, read the full document here.

Together, by following these guidelines, we can help protect and preserve Lambeth’s trees for future generations.