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Health and safety in the home

Fire

In the event of a fire 

If a fire starts in your house:

  • get out, stay out and call out the fire service on 999
  • if you are trapped, close the door of your room and use bedding, towels or clothes to block up any gaps under the door that might let in smoke or fumes
  • shout 'FIRE' from the window to attract attention and tell people to call the fire brigade.

As your landlord we are responsible for carrying out regular fire safety checks in the communal areas of buildings. We will remove any items that are left in communal areas as they block exit routes in the event of an emergency evacuation. But keep the smoke alarm video and wording above it.

You should familiarise yourself with the exit routes for your property, and whether the policy is to 'Stay Put' or 'Evacuate'.

If you live in a house, you should evacuate immediately. 

If you live in a block, we advise you follow Stay Put Guidelines unless you are directly affected by heat, smoke or flames or the London Fire Brigade deem it necessary to evacuate the block. If you or a member of your household would be unable to evacuate without help, you must contact your Housing Officer and request a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.

Call 020 8937 2400 or email housingmanagement@brent.gov.uk 

Fire safety in tower blocks

As part of our regular maintenance work BHM does daily, monthly and annual checks on tower block housing to make sure that the appropriate fire prevention and safety measures are in place.

Brent Housing Management safety measures

Four checks we include:

  • daily checks to identify and remove any items which could block a fire escape route (including bulk rubbish)
  • monthly checks to ensure that all communal doors are in full working order and that they are fitted with a smoke seal strip to provide a barrier against fire, smoke and hot gases
  • annual checks on all smoke detection equipment
  • annual Fire Risk Assessments in every building.

Communal areas are our responsibility. However, your help is extremely important in maintaining a safe environment for everybody. Please immediately report anything in your building which might be a fire risk.

How you can prevent a fire in your block

  • Have a safety check on your gas boiler every year - make sure you provide access to your home when your safety check is due. You will be contacted in advance.
  • Think about how old your gas and electrical appliances are, and where they are positioned - if you are not sure all your appliances are safe, please contact us to get expert advice.
  • Do not overload electrical wall sockets.
  • Keep a fire blanket in an accessible place in your kitchen.
  • Do not damage, remove or wedge open internal doors.
  • Do not use or store petroleum spirit (petrol, diesel or paraffin) or liquid propane gas cylinders in your home.
  • Do not store flammable materials in communal areas.
  • Keep fire exits and escape routes clear. This could either be a door leading from your home, a balcony walkway or any shared landing or staircase. The hall may be the only way out of your home so make sure there is nothing in the way that might slow you down in an emergency.
  • Be aware of your fire exits.
  • Do not wedge open fire doors.

Gas safety

If you think can smell gas or think there is a leak, contact the National Grid immediately on 0800 111 999.

Do

  • turn off the gas supply at the meter
  • open all doors and windows

Do not

  • smoke or vape
  • strike a match
  • turn electrical switches on or off

Your safety is a priority for Brent Housing Management and it is our obligation to ensure all gas appliances in your home, are safety maintained and inspected. 

You must give us access to your home to carry out an annual gas safety check.

If you do not allow us into your home, we will take court action to gain access to protect your safety.

For gas safety advice, visit the GCS website or the Gas Safe Register website. Alternatively, you can call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500.

Water leaks

External leak

If you have an external leak, please call your water or utilities supplier

Internal leak

If you have a leak inside your home from a tap or pipe you can report this for repair through your tenant services account in My Account.

Report an internal leak

Don’t have an online account?

Creating an account is easy and only takes a couple of minutes. All you need to get started is an email address, to use as a login. We will then send you details on how to activate your account.

Register to My Account

You will need to activate your tenant services account the first time you log in.

Emergency repairs

In the event of a leak or flooding that you believe is a danger to someone’s health or safety, you can call us to request an emergency repair on the following number

  • Monday to Fridays, 8am to 5pm: 020 8937 2400
  • weekends and out of hours: 020 8937 1234 

Further information

Asbestos

It is important to remember that as long as asbestos is in good condition and undisturbed it does not pose a risk to health.

Our contractors assess homes for asbestos before starting any improvement or alteration work. They must ensure that their work would not affect any asbestos that is present and that it is in a safe condition. 

View further information and guidance about asbestos

Damp and condensation

Damp can cause mould on walls and furniture and cause wooden window frames and floors to rot. It can also be harmful to your health and trigger issues like asthma.

Report mould issues

If you have mould that is severe and you feel that it is affecting your health, you can report it on My Account.

Report a mould issue

Don’t have an online account?

Creating an account is easy and only takes a couple of minutes. All you need to get started is an email address, to use as a login. We will then send you details on how to activate your account.

Register to My Account

You will need to activate your tenant services account the first time you log in.

Dealing with mould in your home

It is your responsibility to properly ventilate and heat your home so that damp doesn't build up.

If you spot mould or damp in your home, it is important that you take action and deal with it right away. If you don’t, it will get worse, cause more damage and potentially cause you to be seriously ill.

Before you can treat damp and mould in your home, it is important that you find out what is causing it. The most common reasons are:

  • condensation - this is the most common cause of damp in homes and occurs when there's too much humidity in your home
  • penetrating damp - this is when rainwater gets in due to leaks in pipes, roofs, walls and windows
  • rising damp - this is when moisture enters from the ground through the walls and floor.

Dealing with condensation 

Below are some helpful tips on dealing with damp and condensation in your home:

  • keep your house warm to avoid condensation. This can be done by insulating or draught proofing your home
  • reduce moisture in your home - if dry your clothes indoors, put them in a closed room and keep the window open and avoid drying them on radiators.
  • ventilate your home - keep doors closed while cooking or taking a bath/shower and ensure you keep extractor fans on and open the windows after use.

Dealing with mould

Below are some helpful tips on dealing with mould in your home:

  • mould does not grow on dry surfaces so it is important that you wipe off any condensation from your windows or surfaces every morning to stop mould growing
  • when cleaning mould away, always wear rubber gloves, goggles without ventilation/air holes and a protective mask which covers your nose and mouth.
  • do not brush the mould as it releases spores into the air that may make cause you breathing problems.
  • treat areas with mould and mildew cleaning sprays.