Keeping you safe in your home
Making sure you feel safe in your home is as important to us as it is to you.
In 2024-25, we worked to make sure your homes are as safe, compliant, and well-maintained as possible.
of homes had gas safety checks
of homes that need them, received fire risk assessments
of homes that need them, received asbestos management surveys or re-inspections
of homes that need them, had legionella risk assessments
of communal passenger lifts were inspected
Your voice is at the centre of our decisions
Our dedicated Fire and Building Safety Team continued to help us make sure all our high-rise buildings (over 18 metres tall) meet the requirements of the new Building Safety Act – a law that sets out stricter safety rules for taller buildings.
They do this by, regularly:
- Reviewing and checking action plans.
- Supporting our teams and contractors with expert advice.
- Overseeing regular safety inspections.
- Managing all work in these buildings through a Permit to Work system (this means no work is done without clear approval, to make sure it’s safe).
We also worked closely with our Customer Building Safety Group – a group of customers who volunteer their time to help us understand how we can improve communication and involve customers in ensuring their homes are safe. Their input helps to shape the way we work and keeps your voice at the centre of what we do.
If you’re passionate about safety and live in a high-rise building, why not join our Customer Building Safety Group?
“I am pleased to be part of the Customer Building Safety group. Our customer-led group has enhanced communications between Stonewater and residents, and has been a springboard for many improvements in the safety and maintenance at Charlottes Wharf.
Since the group started, we’ve already helped to develop and monitor many actions and improvements, including CCTV, improved entrance door and fob access, new signage, installation of pigeon netting, jet-washing of the covered parking area, and ongoing clearance of the bin store areas. We have introduced Consultation Events, and we had our first Community Day last year, which was well attended by residents.”
Sam, Stonewater customer and member of the Customer Building Safety Group
Moving our Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) to a specialist contractor
We began working with a specialist certified consultant on all our Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs). This gives us extra confidence that they're completed to a high standard of compliance.
An FRA is a routine safety check that assesses the risk of a fire starting and the harm it may cause, and sets out actions to reduce the risk to as low as possible.
In 2024-25, our consultants inspected about 300 buildings every month and completed 100% of the checks on our planned timetable.
We also kept a close watch on any follow-up works identified during an FRA, making sure they were finished properly and to a high standard.
Introducing Person-Centred Risk Assessments and emergency evacuation plans
Before new laws come into force in 2026, we've started offering Person-Centred Risk Assessments and emergency evacuation plans (EEPs) to customers.
These assessments help us identify anyone who is at greater risk of a fire in their home or another part of the building and who may need extra help to safely leave a building in an emergency. Where required, we'll work with the customer to make sure they have a suitable plan to follow in an emergency.
This allows us to plan more effectively for safe evacuations and to share important information with the fire service when needed.
Fire doors
Over the last 12 months, we've introduced a comprehensive programme of communal and flat entrance fire door checks in our buildings over five storeys tall. Communal doors are checked once every three months.
If you're contacted, it's important to allow us access, so we can check your flat entrance door. This helps us to make sure it can protect you and your home in a fire.
Fire doors are an important part of a building's fire protection, as they prevent fire and smoke from moving through the building, helping everyone to leave safely.
Inspected over 99% of shared areas for asbestos
One of the key jobs of our Building Safety Team is managing our asbestos inspection and removal programme.
Asbestos is a material that was commonly used in buildings, but we now know it can be dangerous if disturbed.
This year, we reinspected over 99% of shared areas, thanks to our new specialist contractors and completed all high and medium-risk works. From 2025-26, we’ll be extending this inspection programme into general housing, even where it’s not required by law.
Independent safety checks
We also brought in an independent company, Clear Safety, to check how well our contractors are doing in six key safety areas, including: asbestos, fire safety, gas safety, water safety (including things like legionella), electrical safety and lift maintenance.
This gives both us and you the peace of mind that your home is being looked after properly.
More to come
We’ve got a strong safety improvement plan in place for the coming year. This includes:
- Retrofitting sprinklers to our high-rise blocks.
- Enhancing fire separation in loft spaces to slow the spread of fire.
- Upgrading fire alarms in some buildings.
- Upgrading fire doors.
- Improving emergency lighting in certain blocks.
- Enhancing ventilation systems where needed.
- Installing new safety signage.
We’re also planning extra upgrades to fire safety systems in some buildings to bring them up to today’s standards.
Thank you
We want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you for allowing us to come into your home to complete these important safety checks and works. Your cooperation is vital in helping us to check that your home is safe - thank you!