Content

What we are doing to make sure tenants and their families are safe in their homes

Work on making sure that all our properties and communal areas meet current fire safety standards is our top priority. 

The work currently being undertaken includes:

  • Working with all residents of communal blocks of flats to make sure that no items of any kind are stored in the communal areas
  • Working with tenants to explain their responsibilities to make sure the areas they live in are kept safe from fire
  • Making sure all housing officers understand their responsibilities and report any problems to the estate management team
  • Visiting all communal areas to check that they are free from fire risks
  • Helping elderly and disabled tenants clear out their loft space and checking the loft area for proper fire breaks and any potential electrical dangers
  • Reviewing and redrafting all our policies and procedures around fire safety

Our Fire Safety policy provides further information.

Your responsibilities under your tenancy agreement

Fire safety is the responsibility of us all. 

We have a legal duty to make sure escape routes are safe and under the terms of your tenancy agreement you share this responsibility.

Clause 4.5.4 of the revised tenancy agreement effective 1 January 2016 states: ‘You must not keep, store, or fail to dispose of any items within the property in such a way that they may cause a health and safety risk, a fire hazard, or block access or escape routes for anyone living in or visiting the property, or prevent the use of a room as a living space.’

  • You must not hoard items in your property as these are a potential fire hazard. 
  • You must make sure all communal areas are kept clear of all items at all times. 
  • You must not store items in communal areas, on landings or under stairwells.

Fire safety and communal areas

It is a condition of your tenancy agreement that you must not:

  • litter, dirty, obstruct or block, the communal areas
  • put any items in the communal areas as these cause a potential fire risk; this includes, but is not limited to, mats, plants, rubbish or recycling, mobility scooters or other aides, bicycles and children’s toys and buggies
  • block any escape routes from the building
  • tamper with, or allow anyone else to damage or deface, any door entry, emergency alarm equipment, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, gas, electric or water supplies or meters
  • smoke, or allow your relatives or visitors to smoke, in any communal areas

Housing officers make regular visits to buildings with communal areas and if any items are found to have been left there these will be removed and stored.  Tenants will be charged £25 for the return of each item.

Anyone who ignores these instructions is putting their life and the life of others in danger, and faces losing their home as we will take court action if problems persist.