Repairs and maintenance FAQs

We take fire safety extremely seriously and we take a number of measures to make your home as safe as possible.

A smoke alarm can increase your chance of surviving a fire by up to four times. We provide smoke alarms and test them every year but you are personally responsible for making sure they continue to work. You should test your smoke alarms every month and if they are faulty, tell us immediately.

In addition, ensure that you and your family members follow the advice below:

• Do not smoke or vape in bed.
• Do not place flammable materials or furniture too close to fires or other ignition sources.
• Don’t use heaters for drying clothes and keep them a safe distance away to avoid them catching fire.
• Regularly test smoke alarms, every month and inform us if they are faulty. The council will test your smoke alarm on a yearly basis.
• Do not cook late at night if you are tired.
• It would be useful to get yourself a fire blanket to keep close to hand – if you do, make yourself familiar with the instructions.
• Avoid using chip pans where possible.
• Internal doors are there for your protection in the event of a fire. Please do not remove or adjust them.
• Keep curtains away from heat sources, don’t put candles or tea lights near to them.
• Remember not to block any fire exits with furniture or other items in your home.

Plugs and Sockets

• Be careful with electrics. Avoid overloading sockets and limit each socket to one plug.
• Use a proper adaptor if you are using an electrical appliance not originally from the UK. Never put two-prong plugs into three-prong sockets.

The Council will not permit the storage of mobility scooters within internal common areas. 

Lithium Batteries

Lithium batteries are rechargeable and are used in vaping devices, many personal electronics such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, E-Bikes, electric toothbrushes, tools, hoverboards, scooters etc.

Lithium batteries are generally safe but only so long as there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged. Damaged or unstable batteries and improper charging, storage or disposal can cause the batteries to overheat leading to an explosive, aggressive fire that spreads rapidly, can reignite and challenging to extinguish. Lithium battery fires are very dangerous.

Below are some tips to help you:

• Don’t leave battery charging unattended e.g. whilst out of the house or asleep.
• Don’t cover chargers or battery packs when charging.
• Don’t charge items near to heat sources, such as boilers, fires or cookers.
• Don’t overload sockets or use inappropriate extension leads.
• Don’t charge or store batteries in direct sunlight or in hot locations.
• Don’t charge batteries close to combustible materials or hazardous substances.
• Always unplug the charger when it’s finished charging.
• Always use the charger that came with the item and if you need to buy a replacement, ensure it is a genuine and reputable product that conforms with relevant safety standards.
• Don’t charge e-bikes, e-scooters or similar items in bedrooms or where escape routes can be blocked e.g. hallways.
• If the battery can be removed from the e-bike, e-scooter or similar item and charged separately, it should be charged on a hard, flat surface where heat can disperse and in an area with good ventilation.

As a tenant, you must make sure that you don’t create a fire hazard in your home. For example, by storing flammable items, or by blocking fire escape routes.

It is strongly advisable that you take out relevant insurance to ensure should the inevitable happen you have adequate and appropriate insurance cover to protect you, your family and your belongings.