How can I be safer in my home?

Carbon monoxide - The facts 

Fifty people in the UK are killed every year through carbon monoxide poisoning caused by poorly maintained gas appliances. 

Carbon monoxide has no smell or taste, can kill in hours, and the first symptoms of poisoning can easily be confused with other common illnesses. 

Signs that you may be at risk include soot or staining marks on or around a gas appliance, and a lazy yellow/orange flame. 

Annual maintenance 

It is important to inspect your boiler every year. 

If you are a tenant of the council, we will do this for you. 

If you are a tenant of a private landlord, they need to arrange this for you. 

If you own your own home, then you will need to arrange this yourself. You can find a qualified engineer by looking at the gas register. 

Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, and everyone is susceptible to infection. It is a bacteria that lives in water. 

Preventing bacteria build up 

There are some simple steps you can take to help prevent the bacteria build-up in your homes.

Run your water 

Run all of your taps regularly, if you have taps which are used infrequently for any reason please let us know and we can advise the best course of action. 

Report any deposits such as rust or any unusual matter flowing from your taps.

Hot water cylinder

If you have a hot water cylinder keep the thermostat set at 50-60 degrees Celsius as water at this temperature will kill any legionella bacteria. 

Be aware that water at this temperature may cause scalding, so exercise discretion if there are children or vulnerable members of your home. 

Shower heads

Keep all shower heads and hoses free from a build-up of lime scale, mould or algae growth by de-scaling every three months - or more frequently if the shower hose shows signs of blocking.

Use any domestic de-scaling solution that you can buy from shops (the same as you would for your iron or kettle).

After de-scaling, flush the shower thoroughly and soak the shower head and/or hose in bleach and flush again, this helps sterilise and kill any bacteria.

Taps

Clean the taps in your bath, basin and sink regularly, including any spray inserts, by brushing the scale off with a nylon brush and/or wiping them with a domestic de- scaling solution (the same as the one used for shower heads). 

Leaving your home for a week

If you go on holiday or leave your property for a week or more, when you return home flush toilets (with the lid down), run all taps and showers for about two minutes to flush out any bacteria, run the water slowly to start with to avoid spray and hold the shower head directly over the plug hole.

Gardens

Run garden hoses for one minute before you use them.

Keep water butts clean and do not use them to supply a pumped device.

Water tanks

Where you can easily check water tanks, make sure that lids are tight fitting and in place, and check that the tank insulation is properly in place. 

Problems with damp and mould

It is always unsettling when you find mould growth in your home, and it is understandable to think there is something wrong.

The majority of mould issues come from a build-up of moisture, which can be caused just by living in your home.

Millions of homes across the country experience mould issues, but there are easy steps we can all take to help tackle the problem.

While this page contains general advice, we can all use, the page is specifically for council tenants and leaseholders to report any issues to us for us to fix.

What causes mould growth?

As we go about our daily activities, such as breathing, cooking, cleaning and washing, we release moisture into the air.

This moisture builds up against cold surfaces and forms water droplets known as condensation.

This moisture can lead to mould growth if left untreated.

Condensation can form on windows, doors and exterior walls, especially in older homes that were built using different methods compared to modern homes.

To help reduce condensation and lower the likelihood of mould growth there are several simple measures we can take, including:

• ensuring you heat your property at a low level throughout the day, as this helps stop the water condensing
• putting lids on your pans when cooking to trap escaping steam
• properly ventilating your property (including cupboards), by opening windows and doors throughout the day
• ensuring any vents are open and correctly fitted, and use extractor fans when cooking and washing
• when possible, dry clothes outside rather than on radiators
• trying to reduce the length of time spent in baths and showers and making sure the bathroom door is closed
• wiping down around your windows regularly with a dry towel to remove moisture
• trying to leave space around furniture to create airflow
• not putting wet items into closed cupboards, let them dry before putting them away
• making sure tumble dryers vent outside, either through an open window or fitted extractor vent

Treating mould build up

It is important to act fast if you start to notice mould growth, as the earlier it is treated, the easier it is to remove.

Here is a simple guide to treating mould build up.

1. Mix a solution of standard household bleach and water, or you can pick up a cheap bleach spray from most supermarkets.
2. Wipe down the affected area with your bleach solution as soon as mould starts to form. This will remove the mould easily and protect the surface from repeat growth for a while.
3. Keep an eye on the area and repeat clean down if you notice spores starting to grow back
4. Use a specialised mould-killing product on more stubborn build-ups. You can pick these up in most supermarkets. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.
5. When decorating (especially in kitchen and bathrooms) use the correct paint (usually labelled as ‘kitchen and bathroom paint.’ These have additional mould resistance properties.

As with all cleaning products, please use them carefully and follow safety instructions on the label.

Persistent mould problems

Condensation forms on the coldest part of our homes, which is why we see it most often on and around windows.

Due to the way some of our older homes were first built, some have cold spots which is where mould will most likely form.

These cold spots are often around windows, balconies, and in the corners where outside walls and ceilings meet.

In some cases, it may be possible for us to carry out improvement works to help tackle the issue, such as installing new loft insulation.

However, this is not possible in many of our homes, and it may be necessary to wash down the walls regularly during the coldest months.

Other causes of mould build up

In some instances, a leaking pipe, gutter, downpipe, or a crack opening in the building can also cause mould to build up.

In these instances, finding and fixing the leak will solve the problem.

When you report a mould issue, our surveyors will carry out a thorough check of your home to see if there are any leaks that are causing issues.

If we find anything, we will act quickly to ensure these are resolved.

Occasionally, leaks can cause damage to multiple properties, so it is important to report suspected leaks to us as soon as possible.

Remember, contact us if you have persistent damp and mould problems.

Useful information websites

• Avoid damp and mould in your home – tips and advice
• Can damp and mould affect my health?

Report it to us

Please also note that expected repair times can vary when multiple properties are affected.

To make a report online, please go to your Onine Housing Account. Need help with the account? Go to the How to use your Online Housing Account page.

You can also call 01708 434000.

We have produced some easy guides to help you and your family stay safe at home.

• Fire safety in sheltered housing
• Fire safety in your home

Here are some things you can do, no matter where you live.

1. Make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm per floor in your home.
2. Keep balconies free from clutter and rubbish.
3. Don't keep rubbish orc lutter up areas.
4. Do not leave rubbish, scooters or bikes in communal areas or obstruct escape routes.
5. Make sure you know where your nearest fire exit is.
6. Do not smoke in communal areas of the block.
7. Always fully extinguish cigarettes smoked in your home and dispose of them carefully and safely.
8. Close internal doors at night to prevent fire from spreading.
9. Make sure to have gas appliances safety checked.

Free home safety visits

Get a health check with the London Fire Brigade.

They have information about fire safety on their website and they also carry out Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) in Havering, as part of which they will fit a free smoke alarm where this is needed.

Keeping your building safe

Here are some things to keep an eye on.

1. Please report to repairs if fire equipment is found missing.
2. All front doors of flats and doors on corridors and staircases must be ‘self-closing’ fire doors.
3. Fire doors must ‘self-close’ properly, and not be held or wedged open. They are designed to stop the spread of fire.
4. No storage should be kept in corridors or staircases. This can block escape routes and obstruct firefighters. They can also feed the fire.
5. No combustible storage or BBQs on balconies.
6. Ensure you understand the fire action notice or evacuation policy of your building
7. Walk the escape route as practice and make sure to follow fire signs.