Being safe in your own home is paramount to Tower Hamlets Community Housing and what it stands for.
Below are four areas to be aware of, with tips and measures to ensure you are safe.
If you have any questions on the areas below, or others not mentioned, please contact the THCH office via telephone 020 7780 3070.
Asbestos Reports
THCH asbestos management reports for communal areas can be found here.
For information on asbestos, please visit the Health and Safety Executive’s website by clicking here.
If you are worried about possible asbestos in your home please contact your community housing officer.
If you have any questions regarding asbestos, please call THCH on 020 7780 3070.
We take our responsibilities as a landlord very seriously, especially in the area of fire safety.
We carry out regular fire risk assessments which assess the fire safety of our buildings and identifies any works required to keep our buildings safe from fires. We also test dry risers annually to ensure that the fire brigade can fight the fires, and other fire safety equipment such as emergency lighting to certify they are in good working order, should an incident occur.
You can find more advice on fire safety at www.london-fire.gov.uk/SafetyAtHome.asp
What should you do in case of a fire?
If your flat is being affected by fire or smoke and your escape route is clear:
- Get everybody out, close the door and walk calmly out of the building
- Do not use the lifts
- Call 999,give your address, the number of the flat and state which floor the fire is on
If there is a fire or smoke inside your flat but your escape route is NOT clear:
- It may still be safer to stay put in your flat until the fire brigade arrives
- Find a safe room, close the door and use soft materials to block any gaps to stop the smoke
- Go to a window, shout “HELP, FIRE” and call 999
- Be ready to describe where you are and the quickest way to reach you
If there is a fire in another part of the building:
- Purpose built blocks of flats are built to give you some protection from fire. Walls and doors can hold back flames and smoke for 30 to 60 minutes
- You are usually safer staying put and calling 999
- Tell the fire brigade where you are and the best way to reach you
- If you are within the common parts of the building, leave and call 999
What have we done to make your flat and your building safe
- We carry out regular fire risk assessments (annual for tower blocks)- which assesses the fire safety of our buildings and identifies any works required to keep our buildings safe from fires.
- All THCH flats have fire resistant walls and doors – which separate them from other flats and communal areas – providing protection in case of fire
- We carry out annual dry riser testing to ensure that the fire brigade can fight the fires
- We also test other fire safety equipment such as emergency lighting to ensure they are in good working order, should an incident occur.
- Many of our flats are fitted with individual smoke alarms
- We carry out fire safety checks on our monthly estate inspections
Preventing fires in your home
- When you go to bed , make sure you’ve closed all internal doors
- Take care in the kitchen – most fires start here, so never leave your cooking unattended and take extra care with hot oil
- Never leave lit candles unattended
- Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out and disposed of carefully. Never smoke in bed
- Don’t overload electrical sockets
- Keep matches away from children
- Don’t store flammable liquids such as petrol at home
- Don’t have BBQ’s on balconies
Preventing fires in communal areas
- Don’t leave or dump rubbish or furniture in communal areas
- Items in corridors should not cause an obstruction or hazard and must be made of materials that would not readily burn (e.g. ceramic plant pot)
- Avoid smoking or stubbing cigarettes in communal areas
- Don’t dispose of flammable liquids in bin areas (such as petrol)
- If you live in a block with a roof garden and in built BBQ facilities – take extra care and precautions
By law we have to check gas appliances in our rented homes each year to make sure they are safe. To help us do this you must let the engineer from K&T heating in so that they can carry out this check.
The engineer will write to you and let you know when they plan to visit. If its not convenient , you must arrange another appointment. If you keep missing appointments we may have to take legal action against you.
If you are a leaseholder you are responsible for the gas appliances in your home. Our contractor K&T Heating offer a competitive rate for gas servicing.
Please watch this short video explaining what we do in the annual check and why it is needed.
Can’t make the allocated appointment? Call K & T Heating as soon as possible on 020 8269 4500.
Any tenant who refuses to allow a gas safety test to be carried out will be subject to legal action from THCH.
Although THCH cannot undertake gas safety checks for leaseholders, K & T Heating will be happy to carry out an Annual Gas Safety Inspection of your gas boiler and heating system for a charge. Leaseholders should contact K & T Heating on 020 8269 4500 or email for this service.
The following options are available:
Platinum Cover
- £14.50 per month or £174 per year
- Labour and parts if your boiler or system breaks down.
- A replacement boiler if the company decides that it would not be economical to repair your existing boiler.
Gold Cover
- £9.75 per month or £117 per year
- Labour and parts if your boiler or system breaks down
- There is no age limit on your existing boiler as long as parts are reasonably available.
Silver Cover
- £7.95 per month or £95.40 per year
- Labour and parts if your boiler or system breaks down
*All prices are for single wet or warm-air central heating systems.
If you require further information on gas servicing, please call our Repairs & Maintenance Team on 020 7780 3070.
It’s also very important for THCH to monitor Health and Safety in Communal Areas. This includes stairways, hallways and the areas directly around your blocks.
The following form allows you to report to THCH any accidents you may have had in or around your block (communal areas only, not within your own dwelling) as well as any potential hazards within your block.
THCH Communal Area Incident Reporting Form
Please e-mail completed forms to: customerservices@thch.org.uk with the subject line ‘Communal Area Incident’.
THCH will use the information provided to ensure that all our blocks are as safe as possible for you and your neighbours.