Introduction
Please see below for useful hints and tips to reduce potential hazards in your home.
Damp and Mould
- Check damp-proof courses, membranes and detailing around doors and window openings
- Keep external fabric in good repair to avoid rain penetration
- Have adequate frost protection for pipes and tanks
- Have properly installed baths, sinks, toilets and plumbing with properly installed drainage
- Ensure drainpipes and gutters are maintained and regularly cleared
- Ensure the roof and underfloor spaces are properly ventilated to keep timber air dry
- Install adequate extraction fans to use when cooking, bathing and drying laundry
- Ensure appropriate ventilation throughout the dwelling
Excess Cold
- Ensure the property is well insulated, with loft insulation and cavity wall insulation where applicable
- Ensure you have an appropriate heating system, safely and properly installed, maintained, and regularly serviced. It should be controllable by the occupant
- Ensure you have appropriate draught proofing around doors and windows while allowing suitable ventilation
- Have appropriate permanent openings, such as air bricks and open-able windows
- Ensure doors and windows fit properly
Excess Heat
- Ensure large areas of south-facing glazing have shuttering or blinds to control heat in the summer months
- Have means of cooling during hot summer weather, either by natural ventilation or air conditioning
- Ensure you can control your heating systems
Asbestos and Manufactured Mineral Fibres
- Make sure any damaged or likely to be damaged or disturbed asbestos is assessed for repair, sealing, enclosure or removal by contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive
- Ensure existing asbestos can be managed on-site (covered or protected and the condition monitored) if it is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged, worked on or disturbed
- Do not drill into, hammer or otherwise disturb areas containing suspected asbestos
Carbon Monoxide and Fuel Combustion Products (Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide and Smoke)
- Ensure you have proper installation and maintenance – including regular servicing of gas, oil, solid fuel burning appliances
- Ensure adequate ventilation in rooms with such appliances
- Ensure flues are regularly maintained
- Properly sited and maintained carbon monoxide detectors
Entry by Intruders
- Ensure windows have locks or dead locks
- Fit security lights
- Ensure you have a security chain on the entrance doors
Noise
- Have double or secondary glazing installed on external doors where there are high outside noise levels, such as traffic
- If possible, install triple glazing near sources of very high noise levels, such as airports
- Insulate upper floor, ceiling or roof space where aircraft noise is likely
- Install plumbing from toilets and cisterns sited away from separating walls
Domestic Hygiene and Pests
- Ensure maintenance upkeep of the property to prevent build-up of dirt and dust
- Ensure personal washing, sanitation, food preparation, cooking and storage areas are well maintained and kept in a hygienic condition
- Ensure the exterior of the dwelling is free of cracks and unprotected holes
- Ensure drain openings and toilet basins are sealed with an effective watertight seal
- Ensure drainage inlets for waste and surface water are sealed
- Cover holes in the roof coverings, eaves and verges to prevent entry by small mammals or birds
- Ensure adequate enclosed storage for refuse and recycling awaiting collection or disposal outside the dwelling
- Have suitable storage arrangements for refuse and recycling within the property
Electrical Hazards
- Ensure all electrical wiring installation meets the latest requirements of the Institution of Electrical Engineers British Standard (BS 7671)
- Ensure you have an adequate number of appropriately sited electrical socket outlets
- Ensure you have an appropriately sited fuse box and meter
- Ensure all installations, (such as electricity supply, meters, fuses. wiring, sockets, light fittings and switches) are maintained and kept in good repair
Fire
- Ensure flammable materials are kept away from appliances such as ovens, solid fuel and electric fires
- Ensure electric sockets are suitably sited
- Ensure any electrical surveys are carried out
- Ensure the furniture in your property complies with current regulations (currently the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988)
- Ensure smoke alarms are properly sited, maintained and regularly tested
- Ensure extinguishers and fire blankets are sited correctly – in, for example, kitchens
- Plan a means of escape from all parts of the property