Block safety: Responsibilities
If you live in a flat in one of our taller buildings, or in a building with communal areas, we carry out regular checks to make sure your home is safe and well maintained. Keeping your block safe is something we do together, and there are simple steps we can all take to protect each other.
What you can do to help prevent fires
There are simple ways you can reduce the risk of fire in your block:
- do not store flammable items on balconies
- never use BBQs on balconies
- use bins and bin chutes to dispose of rubbish safely
- do not store items in corridors, stairwells or other communal areas
By law, customers living in multi-occupied buildings must keep fire doors closed and must not tamper with self-closing devices. These doors are there to protect you and your neighbours.
How we keep your block safe
We carry out regular checks, tests and assessments to make sure your building meets safety standards. This includes:
- quarterly inspections of communal fire doors and annual checks of flat entrance doors in taller blocks
- fire risk assessments
- making sure every home has a working smoke alarm
- testing and maintaining fire alarms and emergency lighting
- maintaining lifts
- visits from our Neighbourhood Impact Officers
- working with partner organisations to keep you and your building safe
We have a designated landlord health and safety lead who oversees this work and ensures we meet our legal responsibilities.
Each of our high rise blocks has its own safety guide where you can find specific safety information about your block:
Accessibility and evacuation support
If you have a disability, mobility issue or health condition that would make it difficult for you to leave your home in an emergency, please tell us.
We can record your needs and work with the fire service to make sure you have the right information and support.
Even if you think we already know, contact us so we can make sure our records are up to date.
Lift safety
We are responsible for making sure lifts in your building are safe. Our specialist contractor carries out regular inspections and maintenance to keep them working properly.
If you notice a lift is not working, the doors are not closing properly or there is damage or vandalism, please let us know as soon as possible.
Never use a lift during a fire.
Report a safety concern
If you spot something that does not look safe – such as a damaged fire door, blocked corridor, faulty lift or broken window restrictor – please get in touch with us.
If there is immediate danger, call 999 first.
For non-emergencies, call us on 0300 555 6666 or contact us through your online account.
