Fire Safety

To keep you safe in the event of a fire, it is important to know the basic steps you need to take to make your home safer. 

Here are some tips:

• Test your smoke alarm weekly
• Plan how you would get out if there was a fire in your home. Get to know your building’s evacuation plan
• Remember to close all doors, switch off and unplug your appliances such as TV's every night. Keep your phone and any mobility aids close by if you need them
• Make sure candles are not on or near anything that could catch fire and make sure heaters aren’t covered
• Use a maximum of one plug in each socket and never use them if wet
• Make sure you put out and dispose of cigarettes properly and keep matches and lighters away from children. Never smoke in bed

Fire safety in houses and flats

At Newydd, we take your safety very seriously. As your landlord, we conform to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Fire safety Act 2021 to:

• Undertake and review regularly a fire risk assessment of communal areas and flats
• Manage and maintain adequate and appropriate fire precautions to reduce the risk of fire in those areas
• We will test and inspect the electrical installations within your home by a qualified and competent person at least every five years
• Fit carbon monoxide alarms in all rooms that contain a fossil fuel-burning appliance that is owned by the association; Note for gas cooking appliances, it is the responsibility of the tenant to maintain and service gas cookers by appointing a Gas Safe Registered engineer visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk to find a local registered engineer or phone 0800 408 5500
• A visual inspection only is carried on gas cooking appliances out at the time of the annual gas safety inspection
• Your smoke alarm / CO Alarm will be checked by us every 12 months at the same time as the service to your heating system
• If you live in one of our independent living schemes, then your Independent Living Officer will complete a Person-Centred Risk Assessment (PCRA) to ensure you and the Fire Service have the correct support in place in the event of an emergency
• Ensure suitable escape routes are available, kept clear and maintained to allow a safe exit from the building. Our Estate Officers, Surveyors and Housing Officers are regularly around to collaboratively ensure this happens, but we need your help too

It is also important that you understand the basic steps to protect you and your home. Your responsibilities include:

• Keeping communal areas clear of all items at all times should you live in a block of flats. All fire exits must be maintained to minimise risk of fires starting
• Mobility scooters must not be stored within communal areas or obstruct escape routes, with batteries charged and scooters maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
• Remember to close all doors. Don’t prop open fire doors in communal areas or remove internal doors or door closures in your home because these help to stop the fire from spreading
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm weekly, do not disconnect, paint over it or remove the battery. You can test your alarm by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds. The alarm should stop sounding after you take your finger off the button. If your alarm does not seem to be working properly and you have tried changing the battery, please report it to us immediately
• Plan how you would get out if there was a fire in your home. Get to know your building’s evacuation plan
• Report to us if you notice any damage to the building structure that you feel could compromise fire safety. For example, a damaged fire door
• Before doing any DIY, check with us so that we can provide you with assurance that this will not affect any of the fire safety features in your home.

To read more about fire safety, please read this leaflet from the UK Government. 

If you live in a block of flats and would like a copy of our fire management safety plan for your building's communal areas, please contact us on 0303 040 1998.