Housing Health and Safety Rating System
Managers will ensure that:
6.00 Buildings are maintained so that the Local Housing Authority does not take action under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004, as the result of any hazard identified under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
Gas Appliances and Supply
Managers will ensure that:
6.01 All means of use and supply of mains gas and alterations and repairs to gas installations comply with the current Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations;
6.02 All gas appliances are serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer and verification of this servicing is displayed in the relevant communal areas;
6.03 Clear written instructions for the safe use of all gas fired central heating and hot water systems are provided to occupants;
6.04 Where gas appliances are located in a separate building from the development itself, verification of the annual gas safety check is posted in a prominent position within the development that is accessible to occupants;
6.05 Buildings will comply with the relevant regulations for the installation of carbon monoxide alarms.
Electrical Installations and Appliances
Managers will ensure that:
6.06 All repairs and improvements to electrical installations comply with the current edition of the Institute of Electrical Engineers Wiring Regulations and meet with BS 7671;
6.07 The educational establishment possesses a current Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) (based on the current British Standard) showing that all electrical installations are in satisfactory condition and have been inspected within the last 5 years. The EICR must be carried out by a competent electrical engineer (preferably accredited by NICEIC);
6.08 Reasonable steps are taken to ensure that all electrical appliances, provided by the educational establishment, are functioning effectively, in accordance with manufacturers’ operational instructions, and in a safe manner;
6.09 Instructions for the safe use of all electrical appliances are provided to the occupants.
Communal Lighting
Managers will ensure that:
6.10 All areas are to be provided with adequate safe lighting, which is maintained to ensure continued effective operation;
6.11 Where light switches are fitted with automatic timers they allow sufficient time for occupants to reach their rooms, or to exit the building, before switching off.
Fire Safety
Managers will ensure that:
6.12 They comply with the requirements of the Fire Safety Act 2022 and that signage and information within residential buildings is accurate;
6.13 All residential developments are provided with properly maintained fire safety installations, and instructions for the safe evacuation of the building and action to take in the event of fire alarm activation, or discovery of a fire, are provided to occupants. Periodic action should also be carried out, and recorded, to test the effectiveness of the evacuation procedures;
6.14 The design of appropriate fire safety measures are determined in compliance with a fire safety risk assessment and the relevant requirements under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2023 and in consideration of the Local Authority’s HMO standards;
6.15 Fire risk assessments will be reviewed annually by a competent person, as defined by the FRA Competency Council and will provide the NCA with a copy of the FRA within five days of them requesting one;
6.16 They provide the NCA with electronic copies of FRAs for all high-risk buildings of 18 metres and above and, where those FRAs are revised or changed, an up-to-date copy will be provided at least annually. FRAs will also be provided for any building that is subject to a verification visit;
6.17 Relevant buildings will be registered under the Building Safety Act 2023;
6.18 For high-risk buildings of over 18 metres, a copy of the FRA will be supplied to occupants within 10 days of a request being made;
6.19 Fire alarm and fire detection systems are maintained in proper working order and these systems are tested in accordance with the British Standard BS 5839-1:2017;
6.20 Records of this testing are available to certify that the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems have been checked in accordance with legislative requirements and are in proper working condition;
6.21 Occupants have access to clear written guidelines on the fire safety procedures, including details of the safety measures installed, why they are there, how they operate and what to do in the event of a fire. Notices containing this information are displayed in all rooms;
6.22 All exit routes, such as hallways, landings and staircases, and exits are maintained safe and unobstructed to enable evacuation of the dwelling in the event of fire;
6.23 Where buildings are over 11 metres in height, all fire doors in the common parts (along with the self-closing devices) will be checked quarterly, and checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) that lead into the common parts will be undertaken annually;
6.24 Where appropriate, personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPS) are used to document how people who have difficulty responding to a fire alarm or escaping from a building unaided would be evacuated in the event of an emergency, as well as to describe any arrangements that have been put in place to assist them moving around the building in general.
Fire Safety Remediation
Managers will ensure that:
6.25 Where remedial works are taking place related to external wall systems and fire safety:
Occupants should be informed of the nature of those works, the works programme (as it affects them) and the reasons for them in a timely manner;
Inconvenience caused to occupants should be minimised
Where inconvenience caused is judged to be significant, suitable alternative accommodation should be offered (and clause 3.26 shall also apply)
Security Measures
Managers will ensure that:
6.26 All buildings have a security plan detailing an appropriate level of management to maintain security standards and this plan can, on request, be shown to occupants;
6.27 Buildings and individual flats or rooms have an appropriate level of security to prevent unauthorised access including:
Securely constructed external doors and windows;
Secure locking systems;
Methods to determine the identity of a caller if access to a flat or room is via communal areas.
Emergency and Disaster Management
Managers will ensure that:
6.28 An Emergency and Disaster Management Plan has been drawn up and is in place for all developments;
6.29 This plan is reviewed annually and tested with regards to risk;
6.30 Appropriate staff are aware of the plan (which should be freely available as part of site policies and procedures and these should be made available, with clear guidelines as to where and when the plan will be implemented) and what their part is in its implementation.
Business Continuity
Managers will ensure that:
6.31 A Business Continuity Plan is in place and is reviewed annually.
Lifts
Managers will ensure that:
6.32 All lifts provided within the accommodation for use by persons are thoroughly examined by a competent person at regular intervals in line with The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) to ensure that any lifts are safe to use and that the reports of the examination are made available for at least two years;
6.33 Routine maintenance is undertaken to ensure that lifts are kept in good working order and that all aspects of the lift are functioning, to include: lighting within the cage, proper signage of floors, operating buttons and floor indicators;
6.34 A central log is maintained of any times when a lift or lifts are non- operational;
6.35 The local fire and rescue service will be informed when any fire-fighting lift is non-operational for more than 24 hours, in accordance with the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2023;
6.36 Emergency arrangements for any persons trapped within the lift are made clear to those trapped, that staff understand their role in reacting to any incident and that a system is operated that allows for the swift release of any trapped persons;
6.37 Where a failed lift means an occupant with a disability can no longer obtain access to their room, alternative access arrangements will be made. In the event that overnight access is not possible then alternative accommodation will be provided throughout the period of duration.
Water Treatment
Managers will ensure that:
6.38 Managers will ensure that:
Comply with relevant water treatment legislation;
Follow the guidance on a risk-based approach to water risk assessments set out in Legionnaire’s disease: the control of legionella bacteria in water systems: the Health and Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice L8; and
Maintain testing and flushing records.
The Environment and Sustainability
Managers will ensure that:
6.39 The Member has developed an environmental sustainability statement in respect of its managed and controlled accommodation;
6.40 When developing or changing any systems, processes, services or residence buildings in ways that might have an impact on the environment, relevant environmental impact assessments are undertaken, such that the implications of the development or change can be understood and any negative impact avoided or minimised and offset;
6.41 A written environmental sustainability strategy is developed in relation to any new build or significant accommodation refurbishment, such that those works can be shown to observe the objectives of that strategy;
6.42 All residential developments are provided with adequate refuse disposal facilities suitable for the number of occupants;
6.43 Where waste facilities are used by more than 10 occupants a waste disposal plan is prepared for the building, which can be consulted by occupants, on request;
6.44 Occupants are informed, not later than 24 hours after moving into the building, of the arrangements for waste storage collection;
6.45 Where the Local Authority operates a recycling scheme, the waste disposal plan conforms to the relevant standards for recycling;
6.46 Where applicable, rented accommodation complies with the latest Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations in respect of the production of Energy Performance certificates when buildings are rented out and the display of certificates in larger public buildings;
6.47 The perimeter of all residential developments and any surrounding grounds, are maintained in good order and are free of waste and litter as far as is reasonably practicable;
6.48 Where a landscaped area exists this is properly maintained, not allowed to become overgrown and the path to and from all external doors is kept in good repair and free from obstruction.