Safety Standards

Stoke on Trent Housing Society is committed to providing safe and compliant homes for our tenants and there are several areas we must comply with to meet legal safety standards.

Gas – we have a duty to make sure all gas appliances, fittings and flues that we own are safe. It is a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, that we carry out a gas service every 12 months. Gas Servicing is carried out by our approved Gas Safe registered Contractors.

Electrical – we carry out periodic electrical testing every 5 years, to guarantee that electrical installations are in top condition. Electrical testing, including fixed wire tests and Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR), is crucial for maintaining safe living environments and is carried out by qualified electricians.

Fire Safety – we have a fire safety policy to ensure compliance with legislation and we work with the Fire Service to ensure that our buildings are safe. Our high-rise buildings are also registered with the Building Safety Regulator and we have a Building Safety Manager, Hadrian Noble who is responsible for managing the safety of your homes.

Asbestos – where any of our buildings may contain asbestos it is our legal obligation to manage any asbestos containing materials in line with the relevant legislation (Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012). Ahead of any qualifying work we will carry out an asbestos survey to check for the presence of asbestos so we can plan this work accordingly.

Lifts – we have a responsibility to comply with legislation including the Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998. We are responsible for ensuring the safe working, operation and statutory compliance of lifts in our properties, and that we have systems in place to inspect, maintain and repair this equipment. We know that lifts breaking down can present a risk to tenants and cause considerable inconvenience, so it is important that they are regularly serviced and well maintained.

Water – legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia, which is potentially fatal. It is caused when droplets of water containing the bacteria are inhaled e.g. spray from a shower or taps. We carry our regular Legionella Risk Assessments (LRAs) which help us to keep our water supplies safe. LRAs are carried out to all our buildings with communal water supplies and properties that have stored water. We also include management of this in long term empty properties.

Damp & Mould – in response to growing concerns around damp and mould , Awaab’s Law has been introduced in the UK, compelling social housing providers to take quicker action when mould and damp problems are reported. The law  imposes strict time frames for landlords to respond to reports of damp and mould and mandates necessary repairs within a legally set time frame. From October 2025 social landlords will be required to address damp and mould hazards that pose serious health risks within legally set time frames.

If you have an issue with any of the above safety items please contact us.