Fire safety

The safety of our residents is our highest priority, and we have a number of stringent measures in place to keep you safe in your home.

We conduct regular fire risk assessments on our 300 multi-occupancy blocks, and where necessary install fire alarm systems to British Standard.

Our fire safety partnership with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue makes sure that our fire safety procedures across all our homes meet the highest standards.

In addition our preventative measures include:

  • Gas safety checks on all properties undertaken annually
  • Fire risk assessment
  • Emergency light servicing in schemes (6-monthly)
  • Electric safety tests on communal areas through an ongoing programme
  • Regular checks in communal areas within schemes
  • Sprinkler systems in designated properties/sheltered schemes and for vulnerable residents where appropriate
  • Fire safety qualified staff

Did you know?

You are four times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a smoke alarm that works.

Around half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents.

Two fires a day are started by candles.

Every six days someone dies from a fire caused by a cigarette.

About two fires a day are started by heaters.

Faulty electrics (appliances, wiring, and overloaded sockets) cause around 6,000 fires in the home across the country every year.


Keeping yourself safe

The easiest way to protect your home and family is with a working smoke alarm. It could save your life.

Check your electrical appliances to make sure there is no evidence of faults or loose or exposed wires.

Do not overload electrical sockets.

Avoid running appliances like washing machines or dryers at night or when no-one is about. Clean lint from tumble dryers.

Do not leave candles unattended, and keep soft furnishings away from anything that generates heat, including light bulbs.

Take care in the kitchen. Do not leave cooking unattended, and keep electrical appliances and leads away from water.

If you smoke, make sure you stub out cigarettes completely.

Keep doors closed at night.

Communal areas

We have adopted a zero tolerance approach to any actions which may put you or your neighbours in danger.

If you live in a scheme or a block with communal areas, including stairs, it is essential that they are kept clear at all times.

If a fire were to break out, any obstruction may block your escape route and prevent the Fire Service from getting in to put out the fire.

Communal spaces containing flammable items add fuel to a fire. Even a small bag of rubbish can create enough smoke to fill a stairway. Sometimes these items can become the target of an arson attack.

Non-flammable items become a barrier to you getting out of the building or allowing others to get in to help. In a smoke filled environment, your vision becomes severely impeded and you may need to feel your way out. Stored items add time to you getting out safely.

For these reasons we do not allow the storage of any items in communal areas, including bikes, buggies and mobility scooters.

If one of your neighbours regularly leaves items in a communal area and you would like us to speak to them, please let us know.

Items left in communal areas will be removed and placed in storage or disposed of.

Do not prop open fire doors – they are there to stop the spread of a fire. If you notice any damage or faults to a fire door or self-closing door fixings, please let us know immediately.

Exits must be kept clear at all times.

Escape plans

Know the fire safety arrangements for your block. If you are unsure of the evacuation procedures for your building, please ask us.

The best exit is usually the nearest one but have a back-up plan in case it is blocked. You could include any ground floor windows in your plan.

Make sure everyone knows the escape plan.

Smoke makes it almost impossible to see when you are trying to escape, so plan how you would escape if a fire did break out, and then practice it with your family.