Health & Safety Information

WHA are responsible for the repair and maintenance of our homes, and other non-domestic buildings, a number of these may have asbestos containing materials. It is our legal obligation to manage any asbestos containing materials in line with the relevant legislation (Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012). Ahead of any qualifying work we will carry out an asbestos survey to check for the presence of asbestos so we can plan this work accordingly.

Asbestos Management Policy

At WHA we take fire safety very seriously and are committed to ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of all our customers, visitors and colleagues. To help do this we:

• Carry out Fire Risk Assessments (FRSs) of communal areas
• Regularly inspect communal areas to ensure they meet with our fire safety policy, This ensures residents can escape in an emergency and that emergency service access is not hindered

E-bikes and E-scooters

Fire Safety Information

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service

Fire Safety Policy

 

 

At Warrington Housing Association, ensuring the safety of our customers is paramount. That’s why we carry out periodic electrical testing every 5 years, to guarantee that electrical installations are in top condition. Electrical testing, including fixed wire tests and Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR), is crucial for maintaining safe living environments. regulations around electrical safe These tests are essential to safeguard our tenants.  

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a comprehensive inspection, ensuring that electrical infrastructure meets safety standards. It’s the responsibility of landlords to organize these inspections, carried out by qualified electricians, to ensure the safety of their tenants.

Electrical Safety Policy

WHA are responsible for ensuring the safe working, operation and statutory compliance of lifts and lifting equipment in properties we own or manage, and we have systems in place to inspect, maintain and repair this equipment.

These include:

• Domestic lifts and lifting equipment e.g. hoists, stairlifts
• Passenger lifts

We know that lifts breaking down can present a risk to tenants and cause considerable inconvenience, so it is important that they are regularly serviced and well maintained.

WHA is committed to ensuring the safety of tenants and residents. We have a responsibility to comply with legislation including the Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998.

Lift Safety Policy

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a form of pneumonia, which is potentially fatal. It is caused when droplets of water containing the bacteria are inhaled e.g. spray from a shower or taps.

Although the risk of contracting Legionnaire’s Disease is really low, certain people are at a higher risk, these include:

• People over the age of 45
• Smokers and heavy drinkers
• People with chronic respiratory or kidney disease
• Anyone with an impaired immune system

To ensure we are minimising risk related to Legionella we carry our regular Legionella Risk Assessments (LRAs) which help us to keep our water supplies safe.

LRAs are carried out to all communal water supplies and properties that have stored water. We also include management of this in long term empty properties.            

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Water Safety Policy

Damp, Mould & Condensation

As your landlord we take issues of damp, mould or condensation very seriously. We want our customers to live in warm, safe and dry homes, and to know that we are putting their health and wellbeing at the forfront of our services.

If you have an issue with damp, mould or condensation in your home its important you report this to us so we can investigate the causes and come up with solutions to resolve it.

Damp and Mould Policy

Warrington Housing Association takes our responsibilities as a landlord seriously and we want to ensure all our customers live in safe, warm and comfortable homes. We have standards set by the government that dictate what this means.

The Decent Homes Standard was established in England as part of a government initiative to ensure that all social housing meets certain minimum criteria. This program aims to improve the quality of life for residents in social housing by addressing key aspects of housing quality. Here are the primary requirements for a home to meet the Decent Homes Standard:

1. Minimum Standards: The property must meet legal housing standards, which ensure it is safe and healthy to live in.
2. Reasonable State of Repair: Key building components (e.g., walls, roofs, windows, doors) should be in good condition. A property fails if major components are old and in poor condition, requiring significant repairs or replacement.
3. Modern Facilities: Homes should have essential modern amenities, such as a kitchen less than 20 years old and a bathroom less than 30 years old. Additionally, features like noise insulation and adequate layout for flats are considered.
4. Thermal Comfort: Homes should have effective heating and insulation to provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort and prevent fuel poverty​

The program was introduced in the early 2000s, and targets were set for achieving compliance across the social housing sector by 2010. All 1260+ of WHAs social housing properties meet the Decent Home Standard and this is monitored regularly through stock condition surveys.