Safety at home

It’s important that you feel safe and secure in your home. On this page, you can find advice, information on how to reduce risks, and more details about how we can help. It includes guidance on fire safety, charging e-bikes, asbestos and water safety.

Damp, mould and condensation

Our page on damp, mould and condensation (DMC) includes information about DMC, how we resolve issues, and tips for keeping your home safe and healthy.

Fire Safety

Our Fire Safety guide shares more about how to reduce the risk of fires in your home, and what to do in the event of a fire.

Download our guide
An illustration of a fire extinguisher

Charging e-bikes and e-scooters

How to prevent fires and protect people you live with.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when charging e-bike or e-scooter batteries, and always unplug your charger when its finished charging.

• If a battery catches fire, don’t try to put it out. Get out, stay out, and call 999.

• Ensure you have working smoke alarms in areas where you are charging.

• Charge batteries when you are awake and alert, so you can respond quickly if a fire starts. Don’t charge batteries while you are sleeping, or in hallways or other areas that contain escape routes.

For more information on e-bike and e-scooter fire safety, go to www.nfcc.org.uk/charge-safe.

Road bicycle illustration

Asbestos

Asbestos was a popular building material in homes for many years, but damaged asbestos can be harmful. Our asbestos handbook contains:

  • Information about the different types of asbestos.
  • Where you might find asbestos in your home.
  • How we reduce asbestos risks, and what you can do to stay safe.

If you have any concerns about asbestos in your home, please email HealthandSafety@syha.co.uk or call us on 0114 2900 200.

Download the handbook
 

Water safety

A clean water supply is vital to our health and wellbeing. However, most water systems contain bacteria and other organisms, and if these are allowed to multiply they can cause people to become ill. You may have heard of the most common and high-risk bacteria called Legionella.

Our handbook contains information about Legionella, and how to prevent outbreaks in your home.

Download the handbook

Gas Safety

We will complete a gas safety check at your home every year.

If you smell gas in your home or communal area, act immediately:

  • Evacuate the property: Get everyone out of the building straight away. Open doors on your way out if it is safe to do so to help ventilate the area.
  • Do not create sparks or naked flames:
  • Do not turn light switches, sockets, or electrical appliances on or off.
  • Do not use mobile phones, torches, or landlines inside the building.
  • Do not strike matches, smoke, or light candles.
  • Turn off the emergency control valve (if safe to do so): If you know where your gas meter is and can reach it safely, turn the valve off (turn the handle so it sits at a right angle to the pipe). Do not enter a cellar if your meter is in the cellar.
  • Call Cadent, the Gas Emergency Services: Once you are safely outside, call Cadent’s National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999 (available 24 hours).
  • Report to SYHA’s Repair Service on either 0114 2900 200 or 08001 380380 who will arrange for a Gas Safety Engineer to carry out a test of your gas system when required.
  • Do not re-enter: Remain outside until Cadent or a qualified Gas Safe engineer confirms it is safe to go back inside.

More gas safety information and guidance can be found on the Gas Safety Register website.

Carbon Monoxide

Your carbon monoxide detectors are checked at the same time as your annual gas safety check. A  detector is required for every room with a gas appliance in it (apart from gas cookers) and they have a ten year life span.

Learn more about  Carbon Monoxide on the Energy UK website.