Help us keep your building safe | Tenant news

We aim to keep all tenants and visitors safe on our schemes, and to do that we need your help.

Please read our safety advice below to find out what we do to keep you safe and how you can help.

Communal spaces and equipment

To help reduce the risk of trips and falls and keep emergency routes safe, we check all communal spaces and shared facilities such as corridors, stairwells, lounges, kitchens and laundry rooms, regularly, to ensure they’re clear of buggies, bikes and other items, and not blocking entrances and exits.

Habinteg also manages electrical safety and water hygiene.

We maintain equipment, such as lifts, along with heating and ventilation systems and our teams carry out regular inspection and water safety testing of shared water systems in blocks of flats.

When we carry out safety checks, we’ll report any emergency repairs we need to make on the notice boards in communal areas.

Inspections and signs

After an inspection of communal areas, we’ll place signs on any items that we feel need to be removed so you can clear the area yourself.

These items could include prams, mobility aids or scooters, or bikes – anything that could slow you down or stop you from exiting the building in an emergency.

If you’re concerned that an item in a shared space poses an immediate risk to your safety, please speak to your Neighbourhood Team and we’ll remove it on the same day.

Keep your building safe

Here’s how:

• Remember to keep communal areas clear of objects. This is so you can get out easily in an emergency and help prevent flames from spreading if a fire breaks out.
• Don’t store items in shared areas unless Habinteg has provided a designated area for storage. No items should be kept in any communal area - this includes rubbish or unwanted goods.
• Don’t install curtains or blinds, doormats or hang pictures or decorations in a communal area unless they have been approved by Habinteg staff in writing. They may be made of potentially flammable materials or could affect how easy it is to leave the building in an emergency.
• Know the evacuation plan for your building. You can find it on signs in shared areas.
• Keep fire doors closed and report any damage to us. Never wedge fire doors open or remove door closer devices. Don’t paint over strips or seals or use nails or screws.
• Tell us if your front door needs repairing. It’s designed to slow the spread of smoke and flames if a fire breaks out. Get permission from us before you update your door and let us in when we visit to carry out checks.
• Only leave rubbish in designated areas and make sure you extinguish things such as cigarettes and matches before you throw them out.

For more information, visit our keeping communal areas safe webpage at www.habinteg.org.uk/lifts.