Nehemiah Housing - Staying Safe In Your Home

Staying Safe In Your Home

We want you to be safe and comfortable in your home.

When you move into your new home you will quickly discover how much thought we put into keeping you safe and comfortable, thanks to our health & safety policies.

As a guide, our advice on helping you to stay safe in your home and making you aware of your responsibilities as a tenant, is covered below:

You are responsible for testing your smoke alarm on a regular basis – we recommend once a week
Your Housing Officer can help you if you struggle to carry out the smoke alarm tests yourself
Every 6 months, lightly hoover the smoke alarm – either by opening it and hoovering around the sensor or by hoovering through the holes of the alarm
Make sure all fire exits are kept clear, including doorways, corridors and stairways
You should have an escape plan in case of emergency, and make sure everyone in your home knows it and visitors too

Be sure to place lit candles on a secure surface and away from other items
Never leave a burning candle unattended

Only ever use an ashtray and never a waste basket for the ash
Never leave lit cigarettes or pipes unattended
Never smoke in bed in case you fall asleep

We service any gas appliances in your home every year – as part of your tenancy agreement, you are required to allow us access to your home
For electrical installations we service every 5 years as standard
For new installations we service 10 years after installation
For rewires we service 10 years after rewiring

Never leave items charging under pillows or on your bed
Make sure the output voltage and ratings on the charger and your electrical device match
Once your item is charged unplug it

We maintain a register of all properties where asbestos has been found during any Asbestos Survey conducted by a professional – if your home was built before 2000 and you want to make any changes to it, contact our Property Services Team for advice first
It is unlikely that asbestos in a residential property, left undisturbed, will cause any harm but if you have any concerns, get in touch with us

There are some steps you can take to prevent the build up of condensation and mould, including heating unused rooms, keeping your home well ventilated and opening windows when cooking or showering, and drying clothes outside and not on a radiator.

For more information on damp and mould in your home visit our dedicated page on the website here