Safety in your home

We care about keeping you safe and comfortable in your home

Please read our Health and Safety in Your Home Document.

From gas checks to tips on fire safety, here you'll find information on how we can work together to keep your home safe, warm and secure.

Legionella

Legionnaire's disease is a waterborne illness caused by Legionella bacteria.

The risk of legionella causing illness in small domestic properties is very low, but it is important that you follow these steps if you have been away from the property for more than a week.

• Open and run the taps with hot water for a minimum of 60 seconds.

• Before getting into the shower after a period on non-use, remove the shower head, hold over the drain and then flush the shower head with warm water for a minimum of 60 seconds (this method lessens the risk of inhaling sprayed droplets)

• Similarly, with the toilet lid closed, flush the toilet twice, to circulate fresh water through the system and empty the cistern.

• Remove shower spray heads and clean of scale every 3-6 months to minimise the risk of any legionella being present.

Keep it clean and keep it moving.

Each year, we carry out a variety of checks on your home

Most of these are required by law, so it's important that you allow us access to your property to carry them out.

These checks include: 

  • Gas safety

  • Fire safety

  • Water management

Keeping you safe is our top priority and our Compliance team work hard to make sure your home is maintained to a high standard. 

Safety maintenance in your home

Remember, all of our staff and contractors carry identification - as do those that work for the Council, Water Boards etc. If anyone calls at your home, it's a good idea to ask to see identification before you let them in. If you are at all suspicious, telephone the police on 101 and give us a call on 01387 321 300.


Keeping your home safe & secure

Just taking these simple steps can make a big difference in keeping your home safe from burglary:

  • Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you’re just out in the garden
  • Close doors to communal blocks behind you and avoid holding doors open for people waiting to come into the building when you’re on your way out
  • Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight and away from the letterbox
  • Leave radios or lights in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied
  • Make sure the fences around your garden are in good repair and that side/rear gates are kept locked
  • Keep ladders and tools stored away; don’t leave them outside where they could be used to break into your home
  • Improve the natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges
  • Remove valuables from view of ground floor window