Your safety is our priority
We have a flexible and adaptable programme to review safety measures in all of our buildings. When we need to make changes, we’ll make sure that you’re involved in that process.
The Government has issued guidance to building owners since the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in 2017 and this continues to shape our priorities.
Here we want to share some information to reassure you of the importance that we place on the safety of you and your building.
This will help you to understand what you can expect from us and your role in keeping your home safe.
Our commitment to you
Sharing information with you
We’ll ask you regularly what you would like more information about. In a recent building safety survey, 444 of you told us what you’d like more information about. You told us you'd like to know more about the gas, fire, electric, and security checks we carry out.
You can ask your housing team for more information about the safety of your home or building.
If your building is registered with the building safety regulator, you can also request more information from the Building Safety Manager.
Sayeed Haris, our Executive Director of Property Services in our Health and Safety Lead.
We carry out annual gas safety checks on gas appliances in your home. As part of these checks we make sure:
- All gas fittings and flues installed by us are safe to use
- Maintenance, safety checks and servicing are carried out by a Gas Safe registered installer
- A record of your annual gas safety check and service is kept on file
- All gas appliances and flues are checked before you move in
Following your feedback we will:
- Update the gas safety information given to you at sign up
- Make information readily available in different formats, large print & braille
- Share a gas safety leaflet with you during your gas safety service
79% of you felt the Gas Safety work we do keeps you safe
Smell gas or concerned about carbon monoxide? Call Cadent on 0800 111 999
In our buildings we’ll always make sure that:
- The evacuation procedure is visible to you within your building generally on each floor level and noticeboards where fitted
- Emergency evacuation routes are clearly lit and signed where needed
- Contact details for further information is available on our general notices
Following your feedback we will:
- Renew fire evacuation information for all relevant buildings
- Share timely fire safety campaigns on all our channels
- Share regular updates in the app for you to access fire safety advice and information
74% of you told us you had seen fire safety information from us
If there’s a fire in your home, call 999 as soon as possible
Around half of household fires are caused by electrical faults so it’s really important we carry out electrical inspections in your home. We’ll do this before you move in and then every five years. When we visit we’ll:
- Check electrical sockets, wiring, light fittings, wired smoke alarms and lighting with closed covers in your building
- Carry out Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) in any communal areas every two years
Following your feedback we will:
- Give you an electric meter cupboard key and guidance on electrical checks at sign up
- Roll out electric meter cupboard keys to our existing customers with up-to-date electrical safety information
- Update our website with a dedicated section to give you more information about keeping you safe in your home
60% of you wanted us to tell you more about the electrical testing we do
Each month our Rangers and Housing teams check our buildings are free from fire risks or access issues.
- Our Rangers do minor repairs and manage other issues like fly-tipping or health and safety hazards.
- We work with our out-of-hours caretakers (where this service is provided) to identify security and health and safety risks and respond to out-of-hours reports of disruptive behaviour.
Following your feedback we will:
- Review information given to you at sign up
- Launch ‘Rangers on the Road’ a monthly campaign to raise awareness of the checks we carry out.
- Do more to let you know when our teams will be in your area.
Only 5% of customers knew we did monthly checks in all of our buildings.
We work hard to keep you safe but you have an important role to play too.
- It's important you get in touch to report any concerns to us.
- Keep fire doors and your front door closed and never wedge them open. If doors don't close properly it's important you let us know.
- Keep exits clear of obstructions so that you can escape quickly and easily in an emergency.
- Place your rubbish in the allotted bin rooms, rubbish chutes or in the external bin areas. Never place rubbish in the communal corridor, it may be used to start a fire or block escape routes.
- Give us access to your home to complete any building safety repairs or checks. We’ll always arrange an appointment and let you know when this will be. We'll also need to inspect your front door once a year by law.
- Hold a valid home contents insurance policy to protect your belongings in the event of an incident.
If you report something to us, and it isn’t resolved, please let us know so we can make it right
Retirement & Supported Living
In some of our buildings, where staff are on site or visit regularly we’ll make sure that staff based in the building help to keep you up to date with the latest building safety information in a way that meets your needs.
Talking to you about building safety
For some building safety matters we’ll need to find out more from you. This might mean consulting with you or asking you to take part in a survey. We’ll consult with you when:
- Proposing changes to your building that could impact on you
- Reviewing, updating or amending building safety policy/procedures
- Carrying out any refurbishment works to your building
- During any refurbishment work we’ll consult with you and speak to you before we make plans for any major work
- We’ll always offer a range of ways to give your feedback, including telephone, text, email, online, and through social media
To find out how you think we’re doing we’ll ask you at least once a year.
So that you know we’re doing what we said we would we’ll regularly update you with performance information.
In our Customer Annual Report we’ll tell you:
- How we’ve met all our legal and regulatory obligations to keep you safe
- About the feedback we’ve received and the changes we’ve made as a result
You can contact our Customer Scrutiny Team if you want more information about any consultation we’ve done.
Home contents insurance
Protect your belongings against theft or damage with an exclusive plan for our residents.
Gas safety
An unsafe gas appliance can put your life at risk. This is why we carry out regular gas safety checks.
Fire safety
A fire can be devastating and can take just seconds to take hold, but most home fires are preventable.
Electrical safety
Around half of fires in the home are caused by electrical faults. Use our tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
Security
Keeping you and your home secure is very important to us.
Water
Make sure the water in your home is safe, clean and at the right temperature for your everyday use.
Structural safety and lifts
Steps we’ll take to look after the structure of your building and things you should look out for.
Asbestos
Asbestos can cause serious health problems, find out what to do if you think your home may have it.
Seasonal safety
We want you to enjoy your home all year round but it's important that you're aware of the different risks that come with the change of season.
Carbon monoxide detectors
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can make you seriously ill if you breathe it in, find out more about the detectors we're fitting.
