Neighbourhoods and Housing Standards of Service

The Government led Building Safety Act 2022 provides reforms to give residents more -

• rights
• power
• protections

so homes across the country are safer.

We are committed to taking action to ensure your right to be able to live in safe and decent housing is met.

We carry out -

• condition surveys
• safety checks
• repairs
• improvements

to keep you safe in your home.  Many of the safety checks are mandatory under law and therefore it is vital you provide access when asked to.

We will

• carry out an annual gas safety and carbon monoxide check on all gas heating appliances in Council owned homes and issue a Gas Safety Certificate. All gas appliances are fitted and checked by CORGI registered fitters
• carry out electrical safety checks every five years to make sure your wiring is safe
• ensure our properties meet the latest standards for fire, health, and safety
• ensure that any damp or mould issues are robustly addressed in a reasonable timescale
• check the condition of every one of our homes over the next three years to identify repairs or possible future improvements
• carry out safety checks every four years if you live in a flat to make sure your smoke alarm and ventilation system is working safely
• make sure that all flats have equipment in place to provide early detection and warning of any fire together with a protected means of escape
• check the condition of all communal fire doors quarterly and flat entrance doors yearly

If you live in a High-Rise Building

The Building Safety Act 2022 states that every resident of a high-rise building -

• should be reassured that their building safety risk is being managed
• can expect to be informed about the measures being taken to make their building safe
• should be empowered to raise safety concerns and to know they are taken seriously
• should be provided with safety information
• should be encouraged to take part in making their building safe

In addition to our service standards above, we will

Carry out Fire Risk Assessments to check the fire safety and any risks. The time between assessments varies depending on the type of building being assessed and the type of risk it is exposed to. They can take place every few months to 2 years.

You can help us by

• reporting repairs/issues/faults in a timely manner
• allowing us into your home to carry out -
  • condition surveys
  • safety checks
  • any repair or improvements works
• keeping to any appointment times and notifying our contractors of any changes in circumstances as early as possible
• remaining flexible when rearranging appointments
• making sure our contractors can get into your home to carry out repairs
• keeping children and pets away from the areas our contractors are working in
• keeping your home in good order inside and out carrying out small repairs in accordance with your tenancy agreement
• leaving your property free from rubbish and in a clean and tidy condition when you end your tenancy
• providing feedback (good and bad) online via the customer feedback process and by the repair receipt survey (postal and online)

Your responsibilities

• arranging appropriate contents insurance for your belongings
• paying for repairing all damage caused by neglect, carelessness or misuse by you, members of your family or your guests
• asking to see a Council employee’s or contractors’ identity badge.
• contacting us to gain permission for any alterations you want to make before starting them