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Council Tenants

Home Safety and Security

1. Fire

   Preventing fire

   To reduce the risk of fire in your home:

   • Ensure that smoke alarms are correctly fitted and in good working order;
   • If smoke alarms are either missing or not working, contact Housing Repairs;
   • Make sure all fires are guarded;
   • Do not hang clothes around fires or cookers;
   • Keep matches out of the reach of young children;
   • Make sure all cigarettes and matches are put out before disposal;
   • Never smoke in bed - this is a major cause of fires;
   • Never leave pans on your cooker unattended. Take special care with pans of cooking oil;
   • Do not use paraffin or liquid heating appliances. They can be dangerous;
   • Switch off all electrical appliances when not in use and pull out the plugs. This is especially important with TVs;
   • Check the house at bedtime and close all doors.

   What to do if there is a fire

   If a pan catches fire:

   • Turn off the heat;
   • Smother the flames with a lid or damp cloth and leave for half an hour;
   • Never throw water on the pan or try to move it.

   If a fire starts in your home:

   • Alert the household and GET EVERYONE OUT by the fastest route. If you have to go through a smoke-filled area, crawl with your head low.
   • If it is safe to do so, SHUT DOORS AND WINDOWS to help reduce draughts that would fan the fire. Feel each door BEFORE opening it - if it is warm or if smoke is coming through, DO NOT OPEN IT - it could be protecting you from a dangerous, smouldering fire.
   • Alert the neighbours and CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE, dial 999 as soon as possible (do not leave it to somebody else) giving the full address of the fire.
   • Make sure everyone STAYS OUTSIDE until the fire brigade arrives and tells you it is safe to go back in.

   If you live in a flat:

   • In the event of a fire or heavy smoke in the building, it is often safer to stay in your flat;
   • If you are unable to leave your flat because of flames or smoke in the lobby area, close the door;
   • If the room becomes smoky, crawl along the floor;
   • CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE. If you are unable to phone, make your way to a window and try to attract the attention of others who can alert the fire service;
   • Don't leave your flat until advised by the fire service, unless you feel you are in immediate danger.

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2. Gas, electricity and water

   All Thurrock Council properties have water and electricity supplies and many also have gas. All these supplies have controls to turn them off - make sure you know how to use them - this is for YOUR OWN SAFETY.

   Gas safety

   Make sure you know where to turn off the gas supply in an emergency. There is usually a lever next to the meter.

   If you smell gas or suspect a leak in your home:

   • Put out cigarettes;
   • Do not use matches or naked flames;
   • Do not use electrical switches;
   • Open doors and windows to get rid of the gas;
   • Check if a pilot light has blown out or a gas tap has been left on;
   • Turn off the mains supply;
   • Call the repairs line or your local office immediately.

   Electrical Safety

   Your electricity supply is controlled by one or more fuse boxes found in the electric meter cupboard. Each fuse box has an on/off switch that controls the power supply to either the lighting or power sockets or both.

   Follow these simple dos and don'ts for safety:

   • Always replace worn or damaged flexes;
   • Always use the correct fuse for the appliance;
   • Always try to avoid using adapters;
   • Always remove the plug before filling an electric kettle;
   • Always turn off the mains electricity supply before replacing a fuse;
   • Never join two pieces of flex together with tape;
   • Never unplug appliances by pulling the flex;
   • Never use damaged plugs;
   • Never touch plugs or sockets with wet hands;
   • Never use portable appliances in the bathroom.

   Water

   Your cold and hot water supplies will have stop taps. The cold stop tap is usually located in the kitchen. The hot water stop tap is usually located in the airing cupboard. Make sure you know where it is - ask your Estates Officer, warden or caretaker when you move in and they will tell you.

   If you have a burst pipe or any sign of flooding:

   • Turn off the cold water supply;
   • Turn on all your taps to drain away water from the system as soon as possible - this will help to reduce flooding;
   • Switch off all electricity if water comes into contact with fittings or wiring;
   • Warn any neighbours who might be affected;
   • Telephone the repairs line or your local office to arrange a repair.

   Serious damage and flooding can occur if your pipes freeze in winter. To avoid this happening in very cold weather:

   • Keep your home as warm as you can and if you have a trap door into your loft, raise it slightly so that warm air can get into the roof space;
   • If you go away for a short while leave background heating on;
   • If you go away for several weeks, drain your water system by turning off the water supply at the stopcock and turning on all the taps (do not drain the heating system - boiler or radiators).

   If your pipes freeze, turn off the water at the main stopcock. Never use a blowtorch or any electrical appliance on frozen pipes. You can help unfreeze them by applying hot cloths or hot water bottles. If you cannot easily unfreeze your pipes yourself, contact the repairs line or your local office for assistance.

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3. Protecting your home against burglary

   Here are a few tips on what to do to make and keep your home safe. Remember that a burglar can be in and out in a few minutes, so try to follow the security checklist procedures at all times.

   Security checklist

   • Never leave your door key under a mat or hanging on a string behind the letterbox. Thieves always look in these places;
   • Make sure that the outside of your property is well lit - burglars do not like lights;
   • When you go out, secure all windows in the property (both upstairs and downstairs). Most thieves break in through windows rather than doors. Fit security locks to all accessible windows;
   • Always make sure you lock up when you go out - even for 10 minutes;
   • Keep your shed, garage and external stores locked. Easy access to tools could help a thief gain entry into your home;
   • Never leave ladders lying about. If you have to keep them outside, padlock them to something secure;
   • If you are going out for an evening leave a light on, but not the hallway light;
   • If you see a stranger acting suspiciously outside your home or your neighbour's (especially if you know they are on holiday) call the police;
   • Mark valuable items with your postcode or address, so they can be returned to you if stolen.

   Neighbourhood Watch

   Neighbourhood Watch is the best known and most effective example of the police and community working in partnership to prevent crime, build safer communities and improve quality of life.

   There are several Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Thurrock. If you are interested in starting a scheme, or joining your local one, you can ring the Thurrock Neighbourhood Watch Association on 01375 362135 or, you can e-mail the team on: Thurrock@neighbourhoodwatch.fsworld.co.uk

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4. Environmental Enforcement Officers

   While patrolling Thurrock, Enforcement Officers identify and report issues such as abandoned vehicles, litter, graffiti, flyposters and dog fouling. One of their main objectives is to rid Thurrock of enviro-crime so that Thurrock is a clean and green place to live, work and visit.

   Please remember that Environmental Enforcement Officers have no greater powers than the general public in respect of arrestable offences.

   Examples of Environmental Enforcement Officers successes include gaining accreditation with Essex Police and the reduction of unsightly abandoned cars and fly tipped rubbish in Thurrock.

   If you would like to contact the Environmental Enforcement Officers please telephone 01375 413765.

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5. When you are going on holiday

   If you are going on holiday, think about these few simple ideas to keep your home safe:

   • Cancel your milk, newspapers and other deliveries;
   • Ask a trustworthy friend or relative to keep an eye on your property, or your local Neighbourhood Watch;
   • If you have a bank, leave your small valuables there;
   • Make sure your more expensive possessions (TV, video, hi-fi, computer) cannot be seen through your windows.

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6. Checking identification (ID)

   Don't let anyone into your property unless you know who they are:

   • If you have a security chain, put it on before answering the door;
   • If a caller cannot produce an Identification card, don't let them in;
   • If you have any doubts as to whether a caller is a council official, call your site warden or your local office during normal working hours or the emergency number at all other times (all numbers are given below);
   • For sight-impaired people, a password can be organised. Visit your local office or call the repairs line to agree a password with council staff. When the person calls, ask for the password before opening the door;
   • If you are still worried close the door and ring the police;
   • Don't let the stranger stop you doing any of these things by saying they are in a hurry. If they are genuine callers, they won't mind waiting.

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7. Door entry phones

   Some flats and maisonettes have entry phone systems for extra security. If your home has one, please:

   • Keep the main door closed;
   • Do not let anyone into the building that you do not know or who you are not expecting

   If you don't follow these guidelines, the security of the entry phone system is wasted. Report any breakdown to the repairs line or your local office.

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8. Concierge systems

   Some blocks have a concierge system. This is for your own security, so please use it in the manner intended.

   The staff can regulate and control entry to the building and associated blocks. Security is via entry phone, video, surveillance cameras and recording equipment that is linked to a central control point. The staff must check the identity of callers unless a resident has allowed access. If somebody calls at the concierge building and the tenant that they are visiting is not in (or does not answer their entry phone) the visitor will not be allowed in.

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9. Home contents insurance

   

   Thurrock Council have negotiated a scheme with Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance PLC enabling Tenants to insure the contents of their homes:

   • Simple Insurance Prospectus & Application Form (PDF 754.6kB)

   NOTE: PDF document - please see how to access PDF files

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10. Contact numbers

    Service	Phone Number
    Emergency repairs/caretaker	01375 372468
    General council number	01375 652652
    Repairs line	0800 074 0169

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