Home - Health & Safety

The safety of your home should never be a cause for concern. You deserve access to all the amenities and services that best suit you and your lifestyle needs. Committed to providing well-managed properties at all times, safety is at the heart of everything we do and we are proud to have been awarded 5 stars, by the Safety Council, for our efforts in health and safety management. We want to protect all that you love.

The health and safety of our customers, employees and suppliers remains our top priority. During this developing situation we are continuing to monitor the latest Government advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19). We have continuity plans in place and are working with our suppliers to try and minimise any potential impact to the services we offer. Click the button below to visit our dedicated residents’ update page to read our guidance for the different kinds of homes we manage, and for links to the latest Government and NHS advice.

Our Three Promises

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Looking out for you

We ensure that your home is safe by regularly checking anything that can cause harm in communal areas. In addition, we maintain protective equipment such as emergency lighting, smoke ventilation and fire detection. We also help you understand what you can do to stay safe.

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Working Safely

Our employees are highly-trained to know exactly what to be alert to when it comes to keeping you and your property secure. Meanwhile, our contractors fully recognise our commitment to health and safety. They collaborate with us to ensure that any work carried out is done so safely, to protect everyone involved.

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Responding to your concerns

If you are the first to identify something wrong with your property, let us know. A failed emergency light, broken fire door, cracked paving slab, faulty lift or combustible material left in corridors can be dangerous. Work with us to protect your community.

Follow these simple safety tips to protect yourself and your loved ones.

‘Self-closing’, fire-rated front doors help to stop the spread of fire and smoke
Fully-functioning smoke alarms save lives by acting as an early warning, allowing extra time for escape
Know the evacuation plan and ask your property manager what to do in the case of an emergency
Items in corridors or staircases block escape and hinder firefighters whilst feeding the fire
Most fires in residential blocks start due to unattended ovens and hobs, as well as cigarette smoking

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Building and Design

Buildings are designed with a high degree of compartmentation between each flat and between the flats and rural areas. Compartmentation restricts smoke and fire to the flat of origin for a specified amount of time.
Statistically, there is a low probability of fire spreading beyond the flat where it broke out.
Very few fires start in communal areas and escape routes.

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Operating the Building

Residents in the flat where the fire broke out should evacuate and call the fire brigade. Meanwhile the building’s occupants are safe to remain in their flats, unless directed to leave.
In most blocks there are no fire alarms in communal areas. In most Retirement living blocks there will be. Communal alarms sound when there is smoke in the communal area and are not usually audible in flats. The purpose is to alert people who are in communal areas to evacuate the block.
There is no requirement for fire extinguishers in communal areas, except for plant and service rooms.

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People

Residents should familiarise themselves with their building’s emergency procedures.
Early warning of fires saves lives. Residents should ensure they have working detectors in their flats.
Keeping compartmentation in tact in flats keeps the risk of smoke and fire spread low. Removing or changing doors and making holes in walls and ceilings in flats can speed up smoke and fire spread.

Balcony Fire Safety

This is a reminder about the fire risks associated with balconies with timber features and the activities that may increase the risk of fire. This follows a recent fire in Barking, which spread rapidly across the building façade and is pictured below.

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Samuel Garside House in Barking, where a fire spread via combustible balconies earlier this month – the fire was likely caused by a barbeque

Next steps and actions required

The government has published specific advice regarding fire risks associated with these types of balconies and the steps residents can take to minimise fire risks. Barbecues should never be used on balconies as fire can take hold and spread rapidly – as above. Where the use of barbeques is identified this could be classed as a breach of lease and lead to formal action.

If you are unclear about what is required in terms of these simple steps please check with your property/development manager.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.