Keeping you safe in your home is our top priority
We’re contacting customers who live in our blocks of flats about the importance of keeping your communal areas clear and free from obstructions.
This comes as we review all of our fire safety polices and guiding documentation, including the safe management of our communal spaces and cupboards.
We want you to enjoy the communal spaces in your block of flats. However, it’s essential that we work together to prevent the risk of fire and ensure your block stays safe in the event of a fire.
It is especially important that communal areas like entrance lobbies, landings outside your flat, and stairwells are kept clear and free from obstructions.
Great Places and Plumlife colleagues will also be carrying out regular fire safety inspections at your block. If we find items left in communal areas when they are not in use, we will work to identify who the items belong to, and if needed the owner will be served with a legal document called a Tort Notice.
A Tort Notice is a legal notice instructing the owner to remove items within a specific timeframe. If the items aren’t removed, we have the right to dispose of them, and the owner may be charged.
If we can’t identify the owner, we place the Tort Notice on the items. This gives the owner time to remove them. If not cleared in time, we can remove the items and charge the identified owner for disposal or add the cost to communal charges.
Customers are also reminded keep fire doors in communal areas closed – don’t prop them open as they’re there to stop the spread of fire. Customers also should not tamper with fire doors and self-closing devices.
By following all the advice below, we hope this won’t be necessary.
If your home has a balcony, the following items are not allowed to be kept or stored there for fire safety purposes:
You can keep plants, flowers, and a few items of patio furniture, but please minimise clutter by removing rubbish and unnecessary items.
Thank you for working with our customer-facing colleagues to help keep our communities safe. We all have a part to play in ensuring your safety, and we appreciate your support. Remember, if you have any questions about this update or any other Building Safety issues, email: Buildingandfiresafety@greatplaces.org.uk and we’ll get in touch.
If you are a Plumlife customer and sub-let your apartment, please can you ensure that the above information is passed on to the occupier as a matter of urgency.
