New tenant group puts safety as top priority

We have recently published our draft building safety resident engagement strategy which sets out how we work to keep our buildings safe, and how we keep everyone who owns or lives in a council-owned block informed and involved. The document includes information on things like:

• How we communicate with residents
• How often blocks receive safety inspections
• Who is responsible for identifying and assessing risks
• How we listen and respond to any safety concerns
• What we could do better to make you feel safer

We have also set up a new tenants’ Building Safety Group for local residents to meet to discuss safety issues and to challenge us on any building health and safety policies. Members of the group can also raise concerns or questions on behalf of other tenants. The panel meets every three months and will look at key issues such as fire risk assessments, water quality, gas safety and electrical safety.

Jes is one of the tenants on the Building Safety group. She says she got involved as she believes effective communication between tenants and the council is vital in keeping neighbourhoods safe:

“I worked in the construction industry for 40 years, both "on the tools" and in a supervisory capacity and one important thing I've learnt about safety is that the same mistakes happen over and over again, because professionals don't always learn from mistakes of the past. Also, residents' concerns are often ignored or never get through to the right person in the first place.

“I know that not enough people understand what an "unsafe situation" looks like, for example, obstructed stairwells, disabled door closers on fire doors, items including contractors' waste left in communal areas. By taking part in the Building Safety group, I hope to keep up with current legislation and play my role in keeping neighbourhoods safe.”

Giving residents more of a say in how their block is kept safe and defining how high-rise blocks are constructed and maintained, are all just part of new regulations introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022. This legislation was developed in response to the Grenfell Towers tragedy to improve tenants’ rights and enhance safety nationwide.

Remember if you have any concerns about a building or fire safety risk in your block please email or call 023 8083 3006 (option seven), or use the online form to report safety concerns in high rise buildings. If it is an emergency out of office hours call 023 8023 3344.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Building Safety group, please get in touch to find out more.