Fire Safety in your home
Your safety is our priority. Please take a few moments to read this important fire safety guidance. It helps keep you, your neighbours and your home safe.
Plan your Fire Escape
Having a planned and practised escape route can save lives. Make sure you know how you would leave your home, and your building if you live in a flat, in an emergency.
If you or anyone in your household may find it difficult to escape, you can book a free home safety visit with your local fire and rescue service.
Everyone should be prepared and know what to do if a fire occurs:
- Think carefully about your escape route in advance.
- Stay low or crawl, as smoke rises and can make breathing difficult.
- Check doors for heat before opening them.
- Never return to collect belongings once you have escaped.
Planning ahead and practising your route helps protect you and those you live with.
Smoke Detectors Save Lives
Smoke detectors provide early warning in the event of a fire, but only if they’re tested and maintained properly.
Depending on where you live, there are two ways your alarms are checked:
Homes with a fire alarm panel
If your building has a fire alarm panel, you don’t need to test your alarms yourself.
We perform weekly tests at the panel and our approved fire safety contractor tests the alarm system and all connected detectors annually. This procedure applies to all Independent Living Schemes and a select number of General Needs blocks.
If you notice a fault or hear an alarm that doesn’t sound right, please report it straight away to our Contact Centre or your Independent Living Coordinator.
Homes with Stand-Alone Smoke Detectors
If your home does not have a fire alarm panel and you have individual smoke alarms, please test your detectors once a month.
It’s simple to do:
- Press and hold the test button until the alarm sounds.
- If it doesn’t beep, replace the battery (if possible) or contact us for support.
Tip: Choose a day you’ll remember, for example, the 1st of the month, and make it part of your routine.
Keeping Communal Areas Safe
To keep everyone safe, we have a zero-tolerance policy on storing or leaving personal belongings in communal areas.
This includes:
- Bikes, prams, pushchairs, or mobility scooters.
Furniture, boxes, flammable materials or other stored items.- Electric scooters, e-bikes or charging equipment.
These items can block escape routes and increase fire risk, so please make sure all personal belongings are kept inside your home or in a designated storage area if available.
Items found in communal areas will be removed for safety reasons.
Your Responsibilities for Fire Safety
- Do not prop open fire doors in communal areas, as they are designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
- Do not leave cooking unattended and keep tea towels and other combustible materials away from heat sources in the kitchen.
- Avoid overloading electrical equipment and ensure it is switched off when not in use. Regularly check the condition of wiring and immediately stop using and replace any equipment found to be faulty.
- Put candles and cigarettes out properly
- Always place rubbish in the bins provided and avoid leaving waste lying around, which could increase the risk of arson.
- Check that the self‑closing device on your own front door is working properly and that the door closes fully behind you.
By following these simple steps, you can play an important role in maintaining a safe living environment for everyone.
If You Spot a Fire Risk, Tell Us
If you notice anything that doesn’t look safe, such as damaged fire doors, faulty alarms, items stored in communal areas, or electrical concerns, please let us know straight away.
You can report issues by calling 01296 732600 or through MyHomeHub.
Our teams and contractors carry out regular checks, but your day-to-day awareness helps us keep everyone safe.
If you’d like more advice or support, you can also contact our Fire Safety Team at contact@fairhive.co.uk.
