Fire safety & cladding

The safety of residents is our number one priority. We have robust procedures and comprehensive controls in place regarding fire safety which are reviewed and tested on a regular basis. We want to ensure all of our buildings continually meet the highest fire safety standards.

This section is aimed at residents who are affected by the government's updated advice notes on building safety. It also includes general fire safety advice for all residents.

Information for residents affected by the government's updated advice notes on building safety

We want to make sure our residents are safe in the building they live in. It’s why we’re doing everything we can to comply with all the Government guidance and regulations to ensure all our buildings meet the required standards.

image; Keeping you safe in your home leaflet

Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Government has set up investigations into materials and practices used in buildings.

It has issued advice notes which sets out the immediate actions building owners should take to address the risk of fire spread. This includes things like external wall systems, such as cladding, on our blocks.

We’re working hard to bring buildings into line with the new regulations. The investigations and interim measures to keep residents safe and remedial works come at a huge cost.

As a not-for-profit organisation we are under an obligation to protect our charitable aims. We have to carefully consider any money we’re spending and the impact it has on all residents. Our main priority will always be keeping our residents safe.

We have written to leaseholders in some blocks to explain we may need to recover contributions to the cost from them. Recharging leaseholders for remediation work will be our last resort. We’re seeking to recover as much of the cost as possible from other parties. We're working hard to push for more government support for leaseholders and housing associations to get through this funding crisis. We have some FAQs here which you may find useful.

Our fire safety document, aimed at leaseholders, details the key routes we’re pursuing:

Read our fire safety document Mortgage lenders are also increasingly querying the make-up of external walls on buildings. We know this is affecting leaseholders and building owners across the country. We've further details about this subject and the EWS1 form here.

UPDATE ON 18 FEBRUARY 2021: Read a statement from Paul Hackett, Chief Executive at Optivo, following the latest Government announcement on fire safety. Click here.

Fire safety & cladding

Information for residents affected by the government's updated advice notes on building safety

UPDATE ON 18 FEBRUARY 2021: Read a statement from Paul Hackett, Chief Executive at Optivo, following the latest Government announcement on fire safety. Click here.

Fire safety - useful information:

EWS1 form explained

Concerned about fire safety

How we communicate

Lobbying the government

Fire safety advice

Our commitment

Our procedures

FAQs