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Building safety

Everything you need to know about building safety including how to report a safety issue to us.

Report it

If you spot a safety issue in one of our buildings, please report it to us.  In an emergency, always ring 999.

You can report a building safety issue to us by:

What is a building safety issue?

Safety issues can include all sorts of things. Here are just some examples:

  • a broken fire door closer in a corridor
  • a gas cylinder/s stored on a balcony
  • a barbecue on a balcony
  • discarded cigarette butts on a balcony or in communal areas
  • mattresses or sofas left in communal areas

Not sure if something is a safety issue? Report it to us anyway and we’ll take it from there.

Who can report building safety issues?

Anyone can report safety concerns about our buildings including non-Poplar HARCA residents.

See your safety records

If you live in a block of flats, you can scan the QR code on your building with a smart phone to see the safety records for your building.  This includes; fire safety, lift maintenance, asbestos, water hygiene records and more.

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Report a building safety issue

Report a building safety issue
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Our building safety resident engagement strategy
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General building safety

What are the safety standards for high rise buildings?

The Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced to improve safety standards in higher risk buildings – seven storeys or more, or over 18 meters high. It puts you, the resident, at the heart of building safety and established a new, independent Building Safety Regulator.

The Building Safety regulator oversees the safety of high-rise residential buildings, making sure they’re designed, constructed, maintained and managed to strong safety standards.

The Government’s Building Safety Fund (BSF) provides funding to fix life safety fire risks associated with cladding in buildings over 18 metres high.

You can download our Building Safety Resident Engagement Strategy to find out what we’re doing, as your landlord, to make sure we comply with the requirements set out in the Building Safety Act.

How do you keep residents who live in high rise buildings safe?

As a landlord we must consider everyone’s needs in the event of a building safety incident. We have a building safety strategy which sets out what we do to keep residents in high rise buildings safe.

We also ask residents who live in high rise buildings to complete a survey to:

  • give feedback on our building safety strategy for residents in high rise buildings
  • tell us about anyone over the age of 16 in each household
  • tell us about any support needs each household member may have

Where can I find your building safety policies?

You can download our building safety policies here and on our policies and publications webpage.

Asbestos

Fire safety

Gas safety

Water hygiene

 

Where can I find guidance on building safety for leaseholders?

The Government has guidance for leaseholders and other residents about its approach to building safety, including fire safety, online. As part of this guidance, they have set out a commitment to protect leaseholders.

Where can I find building safety advice if I want to buy a flat?

The Law Society, who represent and govern solicitors, has put together building safety advice for flat buyers which outlines some of the risks and the questions flat buyers should ask, as part of the purchase process.

Do any HARCA buildings include RAAC, a type of concrete?

You may have seen news reports in recent years about the closure of some schools and public buildings due to safety concerns with a particular type of concrete. This material, known as RAAC, has not been used in any of our buildings.

How can I get window restrictors fitted in my home?

Please let us know if you have young children or vulnerable family members and need lockable window restrictors.  This is especially important if you live above the ground floor.

You can raise a repair on MyHARCA, your resident portal, or email repairsteam@poplarharca.co.uk.  Please use the email title ‘window restrictors’. You can also ring our freephone number: 0800 035 199.

Gas safety

What do I do if I can smell gas in my home?

If you suspect you have a gas leak, telephone the free, 24-hour National Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999 straight away.

  • Open all your doors and windows
  • Don’t operate electrical switches (including turning light switches on or off) because this can ignite escaping gas
  • Extinguish all naked flames and don’t smoke
  • Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (there’s usually a large lever next to the gas meter)
  • Leave your home as soon as you can

You can find more useful emergency guidance on the British Gas website.

Why do I need a gas check in my home every year?

If you live in one of our rented homes, you must give our subcontractors access for an annual gas check to keep your household, and your neighbours, safe

By law, we have to carry out checks to gas boilers and appliances in tenanted homes, every year. Unchecked, faulty gas appliances can give off poisonous carbon monoxide which can be fatal

We will contact you by email, phone call, or letter every year to arrange your annual gas safety check, or email us to book your appointment

If you’re a tenant, report repair and maintenance issues with boilers and gas appliances to our Repairs team

If you’re a leaseholder, you must arrange for your gas appliances to be repaired and checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer every year

If you rent out a leasehold property, check the Gas Safe Register for help and advice for landlords.

Tenants can email us to report a boiler repair repairsteam@poplarharca.co.uk

What is my carbon monoxide alarm for?

We provide carbon monoxide alarms to tenants which sounds if the sensor detects a build-up of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms are checked as standard as part of every tenant’s annual gas check

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste

Gas appliances, such as your boiler or cooker can leak carbon monoxide if they are not fitted correctly or properly maintained

Breathing carbon monoxide in can make you unwell and can kill if you’re exposed to high levels.

Email us at repairsteam@poplarharca.co.uk if you have questions or concerns about your carbon monoxide alarm.

Asbestos

What is asbestos and where is it found?

Asbestos was a commonly used building material and can be found in many properties built before 2000.  It was mainly used for insulation and fireproofing, often mixed with other materials.  It’s not used in construction today.

It’s not dangerous to anyone who lives in or enters a property containing it, unless it is damaged or disturbed. Drilling into asbestos, for example, can release potentially harmful dust or fibres.

Asbestos can be found in, but is not exclusive to, these areas in some homes:

  • insulation board
  • gutters, rainwater pipes, water tanks, garages or shed roofing sheets
  • textured coatings, such as artex ceiling finishes
  • floor tiles, tile adhesive and textiles
  • sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams for fire protection
  • pipe lagging
  • DIY & home improvements

If you’re a tenant and want to do some DIY, please get in touch with us first, so we can check our records and let you know if asbestos is present. You can contact us by logging in to MyHARCA and submitting a Home Alterations Form.

We may carry out an asbestos survey to your home if we think it’s needed.

Do you do asbestos surveys for leaseholders?

If you’re a leaseholder, you will need to arrange and pay for an asbestos survey and any associated work required to remove asbestos

Always use an approved contractor who is licensed with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

You can find a licensed asbestos removal contractor on the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) website

Email us at info@poplarharca.co.uk if you have any questions about asbestos in your home.

Water hygiene

What do you do to keep my water supply safe?

We clean, disinfect and inspect water tanks which serve blocks of flats, twice every year, to make sure the water supply is clean and safe.

We will always let you know if there are problems with your water supply and provide you with temporary water, if needed.

If you have concerns with the safety of your water supply, please contact us straight away, telephone 0800 035 199.