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uk Personal safety & immediate danger someone loitering in stairwell • stranger in corridor watching • person blocking hallway • suspicious person in building • being watched in stairwell • being followed in corridor • someone hanging around doorway • unknown person near my flat • creepy person in stairwell • someone waiting by lift • unsafe shared entrance • someone lingering by exit • watched while entering building • intimidation in communal area • suspicious loiterer in hallway • anxious walking to my door • someone observing my route • threat in apartment corridor

What to do if…
someone is loitering in a stairwell or corridor and watching you approach

Short answer

Do not enter an enclosed stairwell/corridor with them. Create distance, move to a safer, more public spot (or back outside), and contact building staff/security or the police if you feel threatened.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t walk past them “to be polite” or to avoid seeming rude.
  • Don’t go straight to your flat/room door if they could follow you and learn where you live.
  • Don’t confront them, argue, or try to “test” them by getting closer.
  • Don’t let yourself get funnelled into a dead end (stairwell, long corridor, basement, bin store, car park) if you can avoid it.
  • Don’t fumble with keys at your door while they’re nearby.
  • Don’t post about it in real time (it distracts you and may reveal your location).

What to do now

  1. Stop the approach and change the situation. Turn around calmly and head back to a safer point: outside the building, a staffed reception/concierge, a well-lit lobby, or any area with other people and multiple exits.
  2. Put something solid between you and them if you can. Step behind a secure door, into a locked vestibule, or into a lift lobby where you can leave quickly. If you’re already inside an access-controlled area, don’t hold doors open behind you.
  3. Make contact with a real person immediately. Call a friend/housemate on speaker, or call the building concierge/security (if you have a number). If there are nearby residents, knock only where you can clearly hear activity and you feel safe doing so.
  4. If you feel in danger or think violence could happen soon: call 999. Say where you are (building name/road/postcode if you know it), what you can see, and that you’re keeping distance in a public/safer area.
  5. If you can’t speak safely on a 999 call:
    • Mobile: stay on the line and follow the recorded prompts. When prompted, press 55 to be put through to the police.
    • Landline: stay on the line and follow any operator prompts (the “55” option is for mobile calls).
      If you have a hearing or speech impairment, emergency text services exist but may require prior setup—use whatever method you already have available.
  6. If it feels concerning but not immediately dangerous: once you’re in a safer place, call 101 to log it, or (if available) use your local police force’s online reporting.
  7. Capture useful details without staring or escalating. Note (mentally or in a quick note) clothing, approximate age/height, distinguishing features, exact location (e.g., “3rd floor stairwell by flat 32”), direction of travel, and any vehicle details if relevant.
  8. If this is your building: contact the landlord/letting agent/housing association/building manager as soon as you’re safe. Ask them to preserve CCTV for the relevant time window and to check door entry faults, tailgating issues, and lighting.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether it “counts” as a crime.
  • You do not need to confront them, identify them, or prove intent.
  • You do not need to write a full report immediately—getting safe and logged (if needed) comes first.

Important reassurance

It’s normal to freeze or doubt yourself in a moment like this. Treating this as a safety problem (distance, exits, other people, help) is a reasonable response—even if it turns out to be harmless.

Scope note

These are first steps for the next minutes to hours. If this is recurring in your building or feels targeted, you may need additional support from building management and the police.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal advice. If you feel you’re in immediate danger, prioritise getting to a safer place and contacting emergency services.

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