Safe as houses

Those old enough to remember £1 notes, might recall stories about fires caused by chip pans, paraffin heaters, and people who fell asleep with a cigarette in their hand. Those issues haven’t entirely disappeared, but, today, there is a growing threat from a very modern invention – e-scooters and e-bikes.

Sales of e-bikes have soared in recent years, partly due to their popularity with fast food deliverers. Some of these bikes and scooters are produced in factories; they are tested for safety and come supplied with the appropriate battery and charger. Others are made by converting push bikes into electric bikes using battery packs and chargers known as conversion kits. At present, conversion kits are not regulated, which means that it is hard to know if they’re safe.

Last year, research by the London Fire Brigade found there was a house fire related to e-scooters and e-bikes every two days, and
the number of fires was rapidly rising. One problem arises when the charger and battery are incompatible. If the charger is too powerful for the battery, it can cause the battery to explode, starting a fire and releasing toxic fumes.

Problems can also arise when the manufacturer’s guidance isn’t followed or when batteries are damaged.

These simple precautions can keep you, your home, and your household safe:

• Use the correct charger for your e-bike

• Unplug your charger once the battery is charged

• Charge batteries on a hard, flat surface, away from main entrance/exits

• Allow your battery to cool before using it again

• Buy batteries and chargers from a trusted source and ensure they are properly fitted.

• If you can, store your e-bike away from the house (e.g. in a garden shed or garage)

• Keep all exit routes free from obstruction, including communal areas
  Close all fire doors, especially at night

• Don’t leave your electric bike or scooter to charge overnight or when there is no-one at home.

• Never tamper with or try to modify the battery

• Don’t expose the battery to extremes of temperature

Keeping your home safe 

Of course, there’s more to home safety than the threat from fires. We’re pleased to say that all Cromwood homes meet or exceed the Decent Homes Standard and we’d like to keep it that way.

The Decent Homes Standard is the minimum level required by law. It is currently under review but, broadly speaking, it means that your home should be in a reasonable state of repair, with a decent kitchen and bathroom, heating that works, and no damp or mould that could seriously affect your health. Where there are issues, we will find them and fix them.

In addition to our annual gas inspections, we are in the process of carrying out a survey to check the condition of every property we manage. Once we’ve completed the surveys and any work required, we’ll start all over again. Our intention is to survey all of our houses every three years.

Surveys are non-intrusive and are generally carried out in a single visit of 1-2 hours. We will phone to arrange appointments in advance. Please ensure you give our surveyors access at the agreed time. If you are unable to keep an appointment, let us know as soon as you can.