Balcony Policy

Part of Fairhive's Health & Safety Framework - Level 2 policy.

1. Policy Statement

1.1. The Balcony Policy outlines our approach to the proportionate management of individual, communal and access balconies/terraces across our stock. As part of their home, we recognise that residents will wish to use private balcony areas and we will only place restrictions where necessary to ensure compliance with legal obligations in respect of fire and general safety. For the purposes of this policy, the definition of balcony includes all balcony types and terraces, including those used to access areas.

1.2. This policy has two objectives:

(1) To maintain compliance with legal obligations, including the Fire Safety Order 2005 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

(2) To provide guidance to employees and residents on best practices

1.3. It is our responsibility to inform residents of the risks associated with the presence of combustible materials on balconies and other potentially hazardous items. It is recognised not all scenarios can be foreseen and we retain the right to interpret this policy in the light of activities as they arise.

2. Private balconies permitted use and items that can be present

2.1. Use:

The general use for social and domestic purposes such as sitting, eating, drinking, smoking and drying washing on a suitably secure line/drier not overhanging the balcony edges.

2.2. Items:

Domestic items such as chairs, tables, stands, decorations, plant pots.
Items are non-combustible (e.g. metal) or flame-retardant treated timber.

3. Private balconies non-permitted use or items

3.1. Activities:

Commercial purposes.
Barbeques, fireworks, sky lanterns or other pyrotechnic devices.
Activities involving implements or tools that could foreseeably cause sparks or ignition to materials on balcony or of another neighbouring property.
Activities that have a risk of any item being propelled off / falling from balcony due to accidental disturbance from e.g. people, pets or weather.
Charging of any item, including E-scooters or E-bikes.
Deliberate throwing or discarding of any item, including cigarettes.
Curtaining or enclosing of the balcony on any side e.g. bamboo screens.
As a storage area.
Placement of any item in a manner that can obstruct or otherwise affect any drainage from or connected to the balcony.

3.2. Items:

Any item that we deem could cause real harm or present an unacceptably increased risk of fire or the fire load. These include but are not limited to:

Containers of any compressed gas.
Containers of any flammable liquid.
Solid fuels including coal and firewood.
White goods.
E-bikes or E-scooters or other device powered by a lithium battery.
Any hazardous, harmful or flammable materials e.g. paints, candles.
Hot tubs.
Gazebos, tents and sheds.
Gas or flammable liquid powered equipment.
Combustible screening.
Domestic furniture such as sofas or armchairs.

The above lists are not exhaustive. Other items may be considered as unsuitable or unsafe at our sole discretion.

4. Communal roof terraces and balconies: Permitted use and items

4.1. Use of communal areas on top of a building is limited to:

Recreational use excluding use of any sports equipment.
Non-flammable furniture (i.e. chairs, table, sun lounger) may be brought temporarily there but must not impede access to escape routes.

4.2. For avoidance of doubt the following are not permitted:

Smoking.
Bringing or leaving of combustible materials.
Barbeques.
Placing obstruction of any type in line with our Zero Tolerance Procedure.

5. Access Terraces

5.1. An Access Terrace is a terrace traversed to gain access to an individual property.

5.2. In line with existing practice, as a thoroughfare it is always to be kept entirely clear of any items and not used for any purpose other than transit.

6. Guidance

6.1. A Guidance Note is available for residents. It will be reviewed in line with policy review dates.

7. Permissions

7.1. There may be instances where site specific risks require a more rigorous approach in certain blocks of flats. Where residents have any queries about the suitability of storing items in communal or balcony areas, they should seek advice and/or written permission from us. In these instances, a risk-based approach will be applied and a detailed record maintained.

8. Monitoring

8.1. Balconies will be monitored as part of our home visits programme, block inspections and fire risk assessments and/or if issues are brought to our attention.

8.2. We may be required to take enforcement action if residents are not in compliance with this policy, for example, unwilling to remove hazardous items from their balconies.

9. Impacts

Resident/Employee Implications -

Our employees will need to be made aware of the policy to ensure that balconies are checked as part of any home visits to the property / scheme.

Lettings Team to be made aware to ensure information is covered off – where appropriate – during new tenancy sign-ups.

The policy will provide greater clarity to residents as to what is permitted and not permitted in terms of balcony use. In addition, compliance with the policy will increase fire safety awareness and will provide more safety and security for residents in their homes, blocks and schemes.

Before the policy was implemented it was reviewed and scrutinised by the Resident Forum Policy Review Group.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion -

We will ensure that this policy is applied fairly and inclusively and in line with our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Value for Money -

This policy will deliver efficiency and effectiveness in terms of fire safety / general health and safety management and will help us to best protect our residents and our property assets.

Data Protection -

All due care is taken to protect data held by us in line with our Data Protection Policy and data protection requirements.

Accountability -

It is our responsibility to inform residents of the risks associated with the presence of combustible materials on balconies.

Quality -

We look to ensure that our residents are save in their homes by supporting the provision of well-maintained homes which are in line with legislative and regulatory requirements.

When things go wrong -

Residents can communicate concerns through our formal channels: via telephone, email, our website or our social media channels.