Leaseholders

Building Safety

Building Safety for Leaseholders

Keeping you safe in your home is our top priority. Building safety is a shared responsibility, and as a leaseholder you play an important role in helping us maintain safe, well‑managed buildings. This page explains how we meet our building safety duties, what you can expect from us, and how you can help keep your building safe by reporting concerns, understanding key safety measures, and following the requirements set out in your lease.

How the Council Meets Its Building Safety Duties

We follow all legal requirements for building and fire safety, including the responsibilities set out in the Building Safety Act. Our approach includes:

  • Regular inspections of communal areas and building safety systems
  • Maintaining up‑to‑date safety records and risk assessments
  • Ensuring fire doors, alarms, emergency lighting and other safety features are properly maintained
  • Appointing competent professionals to carry out specialist safety checks
  • Managing higher‑risk buildings in line with national building safety regulations
  • Providing clear information to residents about safety measures and any works taking place

Our aim is to identify and manage risks early, maintain safe buildings, and ensure that all safety‑critical systems are functioning as they should.

Building Safety

Asbestos

Asbestos

Section Details
What is asbestos? A naturally occurring mineral widely used in UK building materials until the late 1990s. It was added to products for strength, fire-proofing, and noise reduction. Homes built before 2000 may contain asbestos. When damaged or aged, asbestos can release fibres that, if inhaled, may cause rare diseases after prolonged exposure to high levels.
Where is asbestos found?  - Cold water tanks
- Pipe lagging
- Roof felt, sheets, and tiles
- Textured coatings (e.g., artex on ceilings/walls)
- Fascia and soffit boards (e.g roof overhangs)
- Toilet cisterns
- Bath panels
- Wall panels
- Fuse boards
- Boiler/heater cupboards
- Floor tiles
- Rainwater guttering and downpipes
Your responsibilities

Asbestos-containing materials in good condition does not release fibres and poses no risk. Usually, no action is needed, and you do not need to tell us if you suspect asbestos in your home. 

Don’t worry if you have asbestos in your home - it is only an risk if disturbed, and we usually won’t remove asbestos in your home unless it is necessary. 

If you think you have damaged or disturbed asbestos in your home, call us immediately on 0208 592 7388. If removal is needed, we will agree a plan with you. 

Avoid damaging anything that may contain asbestos.  Do not drill, scrape, sand, or disturb asbestos products. 

Never try to remove suspected asbestos – only trained specialist contractors should do this.
What LBBD do

Surveys communal areas (corridors, lobbies, stairwells) as per Control of Asbestos Regulations.

Confirms presence and condition of asbestos via specialist surveys and testing.

Maintains an asbestos register for monitoring.

Conducts home surveys when concerns arise or repairs indicate possible asbestos.

Removes damaged or fragile asbestos only; good condition asbestos remains.

Uses trained contractors for removal.

Displays plaques in buildings indicating asbestos presence.

Re-inspects identified asbestos annually.

Copies of asbestos reports available for a fee (contact leasehold@lbbd.gov.uk).

Clutter

Communal Area Safety Guidelines

Topic Details  
Reminder Personal belongings must not be left in communal areas, including hallways, stairwells, landings, shared entrances, balconies and outdoor spaces.
Why?

Items left in these spaces can:

  • Obstruct emergency exits, creating serious risks during evacuations.
  • Increase trip and fall hazards, especially for vulnerable residents.
  • Attracts pests and creates fire hazards
  • Prevent cleaning and maintenance teams from working effectively
Fire Safety Fires can have devastating and fatal consequences. Keeping shared spaces clear is a vital safety measure.
Storage Store items inside your property or in designated storage areas only.
Leaseholder Responsibility Under your lease terms, all communal means of access must remain clear from obstruction. Leaving personal items here is a breach of your lease.
Enforcement If obstructions are not removed within 14 days of notice, the Council may remove items and recover costs from the leaseholder.
Cooperation We appreciate your cooperation in keeping communal areas safe, clean, and accessible for everyone.

Fire Safety

Fire Safety Information Table

Section Details
What is fire safety? Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. We work with the London Fire Brigade and carry out fire risk assessments to ensure all homes meet safety standards. If you live in a high-rise block (7+ stories or 18m+), more information is available at Building Safety.
What does the Council do to ensure Fire Safety ?

A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is a legal requirement carried out by fully accredited professionals to identify fire-related risks and hazards within a building.

At our organisation, FRA’s focus exclusively on the communal areas of residential buildings. 

These assessments are designed to: 

- Ensure regular inspections to keep communal or shared escape routes clear.

- Evaluate potential fire hazards.

- Remove flammable items from corridors and cupboards.  As well as fuelling firest, these can block escape routes in an emergency.

- Reduce identified risks and recommend improvements    

Such as:

• Fire-rated flat entrance doors
• Smoke alarm upgrades or installations.

The goal is to ensure the satefy of residents and visitors by maintaining compliance with fire safety regulations and reducing the likelihood and impact of fire incidents. 

Copies of FRAs available for a fee (contact leasehold@lbbd.gov.uk).
Resident Responsibilities

As a resident we expect that you will: 

- Be aware of fire hazards and reduce risks of fire.

- Ensure everyone in your household knows what to do in the unlikely event of fire. If you live in a property with internal communal areas, we will inform you of the fire evacuation strategy and the evacuation procedure to follow. 

- Follow evacuation strategy and Fire Action Notices – usually found near fire exists including the front door. 

- Never use barbecues on balconies; and ensure anything stored is fireproof.

- Clean cooker hood filters regularly.

- Read all fire safety information provided.

- Test smoke alarms regularly.

- Do not store items in service cupboards.

- Dispose of rubbish and bulky waste correctly.

- Report fire safety issues (faulty doors, lights, rubbish in communal areas) to 020 8215 3000.

For more information please refer to our Fire Safety page

Flat Entrance Doors

Flat Entrance Doors

Leaseholders must ensure that a FD30S fire door-set is installed. An FD30S fire door-set provides both fire and smoke resistance for a minimum of 30 minutes. A leaseholder may be asked to provide the following:

  1. Certificate of Conformity
  • Confirms the door-set has been tested in accordance with BS 476-22.
  • Must be classified in line with BS EN 13501-2 and tested to the relevant European standards, which should include:
  • BS EN 1634-1
  • BS EN 1634-2
  • BS EN 1634-3
  1. Installation Certificate
  • Confirms the door-set has been installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications by a competent installer.
  • Must be signed and dated when installed. 

Gas and Electrical Certificates

Gas and Electrical Certificates

Gas Certificate

Leaseholders are legally required to arrange annual safety checks on all gas appliances, pipework, and flues by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A copy of the gas safety certificate (CP12) must be kept for at least two years. If the property is sublet, the leaseholder must also provide the certificate to their tenants within 28 days of the inspection. These checks are essential for ensuring safety, preventing gas-related hazards, and complying with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

Please note, a new lease requirement is being introduced. All leaseholders will be written to and will be required to provide the council with:

  • A valid annual Gas Safety Certificate

This change is in line with the Building Safety Act 2022, which continues to evolve to ensure residential buildings are safe and well-managed. The requirement applies whether you live in your property or sublet it and helps us maintain a safe environment for all residents.

What you need to do:

We’ll be in touch with more details about when this requirement will officially come into effect and how to submit your documents.

For FAQs please visit our Gas Safety page. 

Electric Certificate 

Leaseholders who sublet their property are responsible for arranging and paying for Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) for private rented homes. The landlord must have the property's electrical installations inspected by a qualified electrician at least every five years and provide a copy of the report to the tenant within 28 days of the inspection.

Please note, a new lease requirement is being introduced. All leaseholders will be written to and will be required to provide the council with:

  • A valid Electrical Installation Condition Report - this will be required every 5 years

We’ll be in touch with more details about when this requirement will officially come into effect and how to submit your documents.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke Alarms

Leaseholders must ensure that a Grade D1 LD2 smoke alarm system to BS 5839-6:2019 standard is installed. Early detection of smoke or fire allows occupants to take immediate action, potentially saving lives by providing crucial seconds or minutes to escape the premises or extinguish the fire before it spreads. Smoke alarms also protect against smoke inhalation, which is a significant cause of injury and death in fires. 

This installation is required to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2022 and the BS 5839-6:2019 standard.

A leaseholder may be asked to provide the following:

  1. Photos of Installed Smoke Alarms:
  • Clear photos of each installed smoke alarm.
  • Ensure the alarms are shown in their installed locations.
  1. Installation Documentation:
  • Date of Installation: Exact date of installation.
  • Installer’s Details: Name, contact information, and relevant credentials of the installer.
  • Certification: Any documentation verifying that the installation meets the required safety standards.