Compliance to building safety covers a range of different areas which are governed by many regulations and legislations.
Areas of Compliance include Gas Safety, Electrical Safety, Fire Safety, Asbestos Management, Water Safety and Lifting Equipment. Our dedicated Compliance Team are passionate about keeping all Trust buildings safe and associated equipment or systems in good working order.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that can be found in buildings built before the year 2000. It was used for its desirable properties such as it is strong, fire resistant, heat resistant, cheap and easy to use. It has since been banned from use in the UK.
Legislation dictates that organisations must identify and manage Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) within the communal areas of its buildings. Current legislation does not extend to domestic properties.
The Trust completes Asbestos surveys annually in all buildings which the legislation covers.
Asbestos containing materials are commonly found in buildings across the country. Asbestos is usually not dangerous so long as it is undamaged and not disturbed. You should never complete intrusive DIY works without understanding the make up of your home.
You should always check with The Trust before completing any intrusive DIY works within your home. Firstly to check it is safe to do so and secondly as you may require permission to do so.
You can find more information about making alterations to your properties here.
Ask questions if you are unsure about a material within your home that appears to be damaged.
Never work with known asbestos containing materials unless you are trained to do so. The Trusts trade staff and contractors are competent to do so.
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia. Anybody can catch it, but it is more likely to affect those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression or smoking etc. Most cases have been in people aged between 40 and 70. Legionella is a bacterium that can be found in water. It is rare that the conditions are right for the bacteria to infect humans however it is possible and that is why Water Hygiene is important to manage.
It is a requirement under legislation that organisations must carry out Legionella Risk Assessments in buildings with a communal area where there is a communal water supply.
The Trust completes Legionella Risk Assessments every 2 years in all buildings which the legislation covers.
Legionella bacteria does not appear to multiply below 20°C and will not survive above 60°C. The area of concern is stagnant water stored between 20°C and 40°C.
People may catch Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling small droplets of water suspended in the air, which contain the bacteria. These small droplets can be produced by taps and shower systems.
It is very unlikely to contract Legionnaires’ disease from drinking water.
In domestic properties the risk of Legionnaires’ disease is generally rated as low risk.
Legionella bacteria can be found in most water systems. The information below shows what you can do to help make sure bacteria remains at an acceptable level:
As a responsible landlord we take the inspection and maintenance of Lifting Equipment that exists within our customers homes very seriously. The Trust has a responsibility to ensure all equipment is safe for continued use.
This means that all equipment is subject to routine servicing and thorough examination. Frequency of servicing and thorough examination is set out within The Trusts policies.
Read our Lifts and Lifting Equipment Policy here.
We want to make sure you are safe when you heat your homes. Unfortunately, we have recently seen an increase in customers installing log burners in their homes. We want to remind you that we do not permit log burners to be installed in any of our homes because they:
As a Trust, we take full responsibility for the compliance and safety in your home. As a log burner is a potentially dangerous appliance, we cannot take responsibility for regularly checking it is safe, therefore, any log burners found in your home will be removed.