🦺 Health & Safety checks
Life is required to facilitate health and safety checks on properties to ensure compliance with national legislation. This guidance details the various health and safety checks conducted to meet regulations and provide safe living conditions for everyone
Compliance checks
Compliance checks in housing ensure that properties meet various legal and safety standards. These checks are crucial for maintaining the health and safety of residents, staff, and visitors.
Here are some key areas covered in our housing compliance checks:
- Gas Safety: Annual checks for gas appliances and fittings, ensuring they are safe and providing tenants with a gas safety certificate.
- Electrical Safety: Conducting Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) every five years to ensure wiring and systems are safe
- Fire Safety: checking smoke alarms and fire extinguishers on every floor, carbon monoxide detectors, and maintaining fire escapes
- Water Hygiene (Legionella): Ensuring water systems are free from contaminants and regularly inspected, conducted annually
- Asbestos Management: Identifying and managing asbestos-containing materials to prevent exposure
- EPC: energy performance certificates are completed every 10 years
- PAT testing: checking all Life electrical items are safe yearly
Landlord site visits
Life leases properties from the local council or housing associations. Typically, an annual site visit is conducted to ensure the property is well-maintained. These visits also provide an opportunity to address any maintenance issues, allowing Life to collaborate with the council or housing association to resolve them. Access to bedrooms is usually required during these visits, but prior notice is always given to everyone.
House and bedroom audits
House and bedroom audits are essential for ensuring the safety, functionality, and overall condition of a property. These checks are completed monthly by either the Area Services Coordinator, the Area Services Manager or another team member. Dates of the audits are always provided to clients and 24 hours notice is provided beforehand.
These are some key aspects typically covered during these audits:
- Waste Management: Ensuring that bins are emptied regularly and that waste is properly disposed of
- Pest Control: Checking for signs of pests and taking appropriate measures if any are found
- General Cleanliness: Ensuring that floors, walls, and other surfaces are clean and free of debris.
- Signage: Making sure that all necessary signs (e.g., fire exits, floor numbers) are visible and in good condition
- Facilities: Checking that communal facilities like laundry rooms, kitchen, lounge and gardens are well-maintained and safe to use
- Fire Safety: Ensuring that fire exits are clear, fire alarms and extinguishers are in place and functional, and that there are no flammable materials in the area
- Lighting: Checking that all lights are working properly and that emergency lighting is functional
- Electrical Safety: Inspecting electrical outlets, switches, and any communal appliances for safety and functionality
- Structural Integrity: Examining walls, ceilings, floors, and staircases for any signs of damage or wear
Actions following an audit
Everyone will be updated during the audit if any actions are identified within their bedroom or communal area. If you are not present during the audit a calling card will be left in the bedroom which will highlight any areas for attention by Life or by the client
Following an audit the Area Services Coordinator will follow up any actions found and ensure that they are rectified as soon as possible. Everyone will be kept updated with any repair actions including any dates and times of repairs.
Additional room checks
There may be instances where additional support is identified to help clients maintain their tenancy and ensure a safe environment for themselves and their children. In such cases, Support Workers will conduct weekly room checks to identify any concerns/actions in the bedroom. They will provide support through tailored support plans or Maintaining Accommodation Plan (MAP) meetings. These weekly checks are completed in conjunction with the client and are a supportive measure within their housing journey. These weekly room checks will be documented using the bedroom audit form, and a copy will be saved on file.
Where properties have self-contained flats weekly room H&S checks will be completed to ensure they are safe and being well maintained.
We want to do everything possible to support you to maintain your tenancy in a Life House and use this opportunity to build a life in which you are safe, happy and can thrive.
