We want to make sure you have a home that is safe and warm; a home that works for you and one that you can afford.
Fire safety
- Test your smoke alarm every week
- Never leave cooking unattended
- Always put out cigarettes and candles at night
- Don't overload electrical sockets or extension leads
- Make sure you know your escape plan and you have no obstacles in your way if you need to use it
Gas and other fuel safety
Solid fuel
Dual fuel
- do not use a barbecue indoors or in an unventilated space as there is a significant risk of creating dangerous carbon monoxide gas
- do not use a barbecue on a balcony
- keep children, pets and garden games away from the barbecue
- always use barbecues as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions
Water safety
Legionnaires disease is caused by legionella bacteria that can grow in water sources in your home. There are some simple steps you can take to keep you and your family safe.
What is Legionella and Legionnaires disease?
Legionnaires disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, usually contracted by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. It can be found in outside water sources, but also in hot and cold water systems in your home.
Luckily it’s rare for people to contract Legionella-related diseases.
However, in certain conditions, the bacteria can grow which increases the risk of someone catching the disease. The risk of contracting Legionnaire’s disease increases with age and is higher among people who:
- are over 50
- are heavy smokers or drinkers
- suffer from chronic respiratory or kidney disease
- have diabetes, lung and heart disease
- have an impaired immune system
There are some steps you can take to keep your water system safe:
- set your hot water thermostat to 60°C (140F)
- dismantle and clean your shower heads of limescale and debris
- disconnect and drain external hoses when not in use, and regularly flush external taps.
- thoroughly clean your tap heads
Flush infrequently used outlets (outside taps, hand basins, showers etc.) at least once a week for at least 5 minutes (hot then cold)
Leaving your home empty
If you’ve been away from home for more than a week or if you have taps, showers or toilets that you don’t use every day we also recommend that you:
- run all taps and showers for at least five minutes
- if you have a hot water cylinder which you’ve turned off or not used for a while, heat it up to at least 60°C to kill off any bacteria
- flush the toilet twice to circulate fresh water and empty the cistern
Remember you should always tell us if you are leaving your home vacant for more than 28 days.
When to contact us
You should call us on 0300 123 2222 if:
- Your boiler or hot water cylinder isn’t working properly, especially if the water is not coming out of the taps at a high enough temperature
- The cold water is still running warm even after you’ve run off any water which may have accumulated in the pipes. Your cold water should not go above 20°C
- You notice any debris or discolouration in the water
Most of our customers have a mains-fed cold water supply but if you still have a cold water storage tank ensure it has a close-fitting lid and is lagged with insulation. If not, then please contact us to rectify this.
Smoke alarm safety
- Test them every week by pushing the test button on the alarm
- Keep it clean using a vacuum nozzle or brush to remove cobwebs and dust on and around the alarm
- Don't paint over the alarm
- If you can't reach it use a broom handle or something similar. You should replace the battery when needed. Never remove the battery except to replace it.
Electrical safety
Fire safety
- ensure your barbecue is a manageable size
- position your barbecue on level ground and keep it well away from anything that may catch fire (sheds, fences, trees, tents etc.)
- do not attempt to use petrol or paraffin to start or revive a barbecue, instead use lighters or approved fire starter fuel
- have a bucket of water or sand nearby to dampen any accidental fire.
- never leave barbecues unattended
- after use, ensure the barbecue is fully extinguished and cool before moving or putting it away
- empty barbecue ashes onto bare garden soil or a compost heap
- do not place hot ash in dustbins or wheelie bins as the ash can melt the plastic and cause a fire
- do not bring the embers indoors
BBQ safety
- do not store gas cylinders in communal areas. In the event of a fire, gas cylinders can explode and block escape routes
- store gas barbecues and cylinders outdoors, ensuring they are not blocking access/escape routes and paths, ideally in a locked shed away from direct sunlight and frost
- take care when turning bottled gas barbecues on and off
- ensure the tap is turned off before changing a gas cylinder
- after use, turn the gas supply to the barbecue off first and then the barbecue control. This will prevent gas from leaking.
- only change gas cylinders outdoors or in a well-ventilated area
- ensure all joints are tightened, safe, and secure before moving or packing the barbecue away
- tell your neighbours you are having a barbecue, especially if they have washing hanging on the line
- be considerate and keep music/noise to reasonable levels
- keep barbecues under control to avoid excessive smoke drifting across into neighbouring gardens/properties.
- remember during warmer months many neighbours will have their windows open.