Home safety

Building safety is about making sure your building is safe to live in by:

• Keeping the structure in good condition.
• Managing the risk of fire.
• Maintaining safety systems.
• Carrying out repairs and improvements when needed.

Tell us if you, or anyone you live with, would need extra help to leave the building quickly in an emergency.

This could be because you or your loved one:

• have a disability or mobility issue
• are blind, partially sighted, deaf, or have hearing loss
• find it difficult to use the stairs
• have a medical condition that means they need medical equipment
  

Contact our team →

Both Riverside and our residents are responsible for keeping buildings safe.

We are responsible for:

• Managing building safety risks.
• Carrying out inspections.
• Arranging repairs and maintenance.
• Keeping residents informed.
  

You are responsible for:

• Giving our engineers access to carry out safety inspections or work.
• Keeping corridors, communal areas and fire exits clear of all personal belongings.
• Not damaging or tampering with any fire safety equipment in communal areas or inside your home.
• Reporting safety concerns.
• Not carrying out structural work or altering your flat front door without permission.

Yes. If you live in a building with a shared communal area, we provide an annual update with information about the fire plan (Stay Put or Evacuate) and other key building safety details.

You can also contact us to request the information you need. 

Contact our team →

If you notice damp, mould or condensation in your home, tell us as soon as you can. We'll work with you to find the cause and put things right.

We will:

• Inspect your home to find out what's causing the problem
• Explain what needs to happen next
• Carry out repairs where needed to fix the cause and help stop the problem coming back
• Keep you updated if any further work is needed

You can help by:

• Using extractor fans when cooking or showering
• Opening windows to let moisture out
• Keeping lids on pans when cooking
• Avoiding drying clothes on radiators
• Giving us access to inspect your home and carry out repairs

If the problem doesn't improve, or you're worried about your health, let us know straight away.

For more advice and support, see our condensation, damp and mould guidance.

Asbestos is only a risk if it's damaged or disturbed. If it's in good condition and left alone, it isn't usually harmful.

If you think there's asbestos in your home:

• Don't drill, sand, cut or disturb the material
• Don't try to remove it yourself
• Contact us if you think asbestos is damaged or you're concerned
• If you're planning DIY or home improvements, check with us first so we can make sure it's safe to carry out the work

We keep records of known asbestos, carry out surveys when needed and use trained specialists if asbestos needs to be removed. If work is needed in your home, we'll explain the process and keep you informed.

There are a few simple things you can do to help keep your water fresh and safe:

• If you've been away from home for a week or more, run your cold taps for two minutes before use
• Clean your shower head regularly
• Tell us if your water looks discoloured or smells unusual
• If you have taps or showers you don't use very often, run them for a few minutes from time to time to keep the water fresh

We'll do our part too. We regularly check and maintain the water systems we're responsible for. If we find a problem, we'll fix it and let affected customers know.

Power cuts and flooding can happen at any time. Being prepared can make things a little easier.

You can prepare by:

• Keeping a torch and a fully charged mobile phone nearby
• Having some food that doesn't need cooking
  
• Joining your energy supplier's Priority Services Register if you rely on electricity for medical equipment or have young children. This means you can get extra support during a power cut
• If you live in an area that could flood, sign up for flood alerts, make a flood plan, and check your area's flood risk so you know what to do if flooding happens