Safety in and around your home

As your landlord we are responsible for carrying out regular fire safety checks in the communal areas of buildings.

You should familiarise yourself with the 'Fire Evacuation' or 'Stay Put' action plan for your respective property.

Following these simple steps will help reduce the risk of a fire in your home.

• Fit a smoke alarm on each floor of your home. Test alarms once  a week and change batteries every year.
• Keep exits from your home clear and keys to windows and doors in each reach.
• Keep communal areas, corridors and staircases clear of large items such as prams, bikes or large plant pots as these could get in the way of people evacuating the building, and could also fuel a fire.
• Accidents while cooking account for over half of fires at home. Don't leave children alone in the kitchen.
• Don't leave candles unattended when lit.
• Don't smoke in bed.
• Close all doors at night to help prevent the spread of fire.
• Don't overload electrical sockets 
• Switch off and unplug your TV and other electrical goods - leaving them on standby could cause a fire.

For more tips visit the Fire safety at home pages of the London Fire Brigade's website.

Fire safety for flats and maisonettes

Please read the London Fire Brigade's advice for people living in purpose-built flats and maisonettes.

I can smell gas what do I do?

Find out what to do, and how to contact us in a gas emergency.

How to keep you and your home safe

Unless gas appliances are serviced regularly they can become dangerous and can kill. If your gas appliance has not been checked for 12 months it may be unsafe and you may also be in breach of your lease.

• Make sure you have an annual gas safety check!
• Check for warning signs your appliances aren’t working correctly eg lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.
• Know the six signs of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.
• Have an audible carbon monoxide alarm. This will alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home.  Our gas engineers are able to supply these when they arrive to complete your gas safety check. 
• Never carry out any gas works yourself. Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer.

For more gas safety advice, visit the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.

When asbestos is in good condition and not damaged it is not a danger. Once disturbed and its dust gets into the air is there a possible risk to health. Do not tamper with or touch any asbestos material.

Our specialist asbestos contractor  carries out asbestos  surveys across our properties. We will let you know if we are aware of asbestos in your home. We endeavour to comply with statutory requirements by working closely with tenants and by providing asbestos survey findings.

All residents moving into a Hyde property will be given a leaflet containing facts and contact information.

You can find out more about asbestos safety in your home on the HSE website.

How you can stay safe

Major works

You should ask Hyde for approval if you are planning major work in your home. If you think asbestos is present we can offer advice. However if alterations are of your own undertaking, then any costs of removing asbestos if it is found will be yours.

DIY works

You should be cautious when carrying out any DIY work. The use of power tools could increase the amount of fibres released into your home. You should inform us before starting any work, so that we can provide asbestos information.

Decorating

Some textured ceiling coatings, Artex for example, are known to contain a small quantity of asbestos. Do not attempt to remove them especially with power tools. We can provide advice, so contact us.

I think I've found asbestos what do I do?

• Do not attempt to clean it up or repair it yourself
• Do not brush or vacuum as this will spread the fibres into the air.
• Contact us for advice.

Legionnaires disease is a kind of pneumonia that can kill. It can affect anybody. However, it mainly affects people who are vulnerable. It cannot be passed from person to person.

Legionella bacteria live in rivers, lakes and reservoirs in low numbers. They can also live in purpose-built water systems including hot and cold water systems, storage tanks, pipe work, taps and showers.

As a landlord, we arrange regular checks of larger water tanks which supply more than one home in some blocks of flats to help reduce the risk of legionella.

Steps you can take to reduce the risk of Legionnaires disease

The risk of Legionella is very low, but you can take steps to avoid it. The risk is greater when you move into a new home. It’s also higher if you are returning after a long break.

• Keep your water cistern covered, insulated, clean and free from debris
• Make sure your pipe work is insulated
• Run your shower or water taps continuously for at least 5 minutes when you move in or return after a long break
• Run your shower or any taps that are used less than once a week for several minutes to clear any water that has been sitting in the pipe

Additional guidance can be found in the Approved Code of Practice and guidance for Legionnaires’ disease on the Health and Safety Executive website.