How We Keep You Safe

We have a legal obligation to annually check all gas pipework and appliances under our ownership. For your own safety and that of your neighbours, it is essential that you let us in to carry out this work. We hope that we can work with you to let us in and do this work, but if you don’t, we can and will take legal proceedings to gain entry, and you will be liable for our legal costs if we need to do this. This appointment takes on average 1 hour.

Most of our properties are fitted with mains operated smoke, heat or carbon monoxide detectors including a battery back-up. When we let our properties these are tested to ensure they are working. They are also checked when we perform Gas and Electrical safety checks. If your detector makes an intermittent beeping noise please contact us and we will arrange a visit.

Please do not remove, cover or damage the detectors in any way, and report any damage to us immediately.

If you require a different method of alert, please contact us

We will also need access to your home to complete an electrical safety check every five years. This is to ensure that the wiring and electrical installations in your home are safe. Unsafe electrical installations are unlikely, but they can cause fires, so it is important to let us in to check. This appointment on average takes around 4 hours. We need to turn your electric on and off throughout this period, if you have a medical need for constant electricity please let us know in advance so we can make necessary provisions.

Fire risk assessments (FRAs) are an important part of keeping you safe in your home. During the assessment, we undertake an inspection of common areas of the building to check that fire safety requirements are met, and identify what else we can do to prevent fire and keep residents safe.

We assess the communal doors every 3 months. We will schedule an appointment to assess residents’ front doors annually.

If you would like to request a copy of the Fire Risk assessment for your block, please email compliance@cornerstonehousing.net.

Please don’t use or store paraffin heaters, liquid petroleum, propane and butane gas appliances or other flammable or explosive substances in the home. (Including jerry cans)

Please let us know if you intend to keep pressurised oxygen tanks at your home.

These are serviced every year. They are set up for each specific house. If you are struggling to use your air source heat pump, please contact us. We can send an engineer out to look at the system.

We do asbestos checks every two years in communal areas. These checks make sure that any materials containing asbestos are in good condition and do not pose a risk.

We also check individual homes when repair or improvement works are planned. This is especially important if asbestos might be disturbed. If asbestos is found, we’ll manage or remove it safely.

A small number of our properties are in a high radon area. Radon is a natural gas that comes from rocks and soil. You can’t see, smell or taste it. It’s found in low levels all around us, especially outdoors. Sometimes, small amounts can build up inside buildings. That’s why we test for it.

We work with Radon UK to test every 5 to 10 years. If your property is in a high area we will contact you directly.