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Fire safety for tenants

As your landlord, Newark and Sherwood District Council is responsible for managing your home. We work in partnership with the local fire authority, and other recognised specialists, to manage any potential fire risks to your home.

We’ll make sure all the buildings we own or manage have adequate fire protection both internally and externally. This protects both residents and members of the general public.

Smoke alarms

Did you know you’re four times more likely to die in a fire in your home if there’s no working smoke alarm? Smoke alarms detect fires via a smoke detector and alert you early, giving you time to enable you and your family to leave the house in safety.

Don’t forget to check alarms regularly and replace any dead batteries - it could save your life.

More information on choosing, testing, fitting and looking after your smoke alarm is available on the government’s website.

Smoke alarms can also be connected to our careline service.

Small fires

Small fires are unfortunately quite common. There are a number of simple rules you can follow to reduce the chances of a fire in your home:

  • fit smoke alarms on each floor and test them once a week
  • do not leave candles unattended, make sure they are in an appropriate, secure and non-flammable holder and don’t place them near curtains - two fires a day are started by candles
  • keep exits clear of obstructions so that people can escape quickly if needed
  • always keep open fires, electric, gas or portable heaters guarded - around two fires a day are started by heaters
  • dispose of cigarette ends carefully and never smoke in bed - every six days someone dies from a fire caused by a cigarette
  • make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape in the event of a fire
    make sure keys for doors and windows are easily accessible
  • don’t store gas, petrol or bottled gas or any flammable materials at home as they can easily catch fire
    unplug any electrical appliances you're not using - especially at night – and don’t leave them on standby. Faulty electrics cause around 6,000 fires a year
  • don’t overload electrical sockets, especially when using multi-socket extensions
  • keep matches and lighters away from children
  • don't leave cooking unattended - especially when using hot oil or fat. Around half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents

Your responsibilities as a tenant

In your tenancy agreement there’s information on your role in maintaining and reporting fire and structural safety issues. This includes:

  • not leaving obstructions in corridors, walkways or an entrance/exit to a building, or in front of fire doors
  • not blocking lifts or staircases
  • removing rubbish promptly
  • not putting flammable items in bin chutes or internal bin storage areas
  • not keeping fire doors open
  • not keeping or charging mobility scooters in common areas
  • not placing furniture or electrical equipment in corridors and common areas
  • not smoking in common areas

Home fire safety checks

Our partners at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue provide free home visits. These are a proven way of reducing fires, fire-related deaths and fire-related injuries.

If you do not feel able to assess the risks in your own home, or if one of your friends, family or neighbours is potentially vulnerable, we can arrange a home safety visit. These take approximately an hour.

Members of the prevention team will visit your home, offering advice on how to make your home safer and what to do if you're trapped by fire. They also fit free smoke alarms if they are needed.

Arrange a home safety check or call the advice line for more details on 0115 838 8100.

What to do if there's a fire

If there is a fire in your home or building:

  • keep calm and act quickly, get everyone out as soon as possible
  • don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or rescuing valuables
  • if there’s smoke, keep low where the air is clearer
  • before you open a door, check if it’s warm. If it is don’t open it as a fire is on the other side
  • call 999 as soon as you’re clear of the building
  • call Newark and Sherwood District Council on 0800 561 0010