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Health & Safety at Home

Keeping you safe is a key priority for North Star

Keeping you safe

Your safety is really important to us. We work hard to make sure your home is a safe and healthy place to live.

Every year, we spend over £775,000 making sure gas, electrical, fire, asbestos, and water safety checks are carried out properly.

Our Responsibilities

We make sure every North Star home is safe by:

•    Completing regular gas, electrical, fire, water, lift, and asbestos safety checks.
•    Fixing any safety issues quickly and keeping accurate records of all work carried out.
•    Training our staff and contractors to follow strict health and safety procedures.
•    Inspecting and monitoring homes to prevent problems before they happen.
•    Responding to damp and mould reports in line with Awaab’s Law timeframes.

North Star is overseen by the Regulator of Social Housing, which ensures we meet national safety standards and respond properly to customers’ concerns.

How We Keep Homes Safe

We look after the main safety areas in every property:

  • Gas Safety - Annual safety checks by Gas Safe registered engineers.
  • Electrical Safety - Full inspection at least every five years, with any repairs completed quickly.
  • Fire Safety - Maintenance of alarms and fire doors.
  • Water Safety - Routine testing and treatment to prevent Legionella bacteria.
  • Asbestos Safety - Safe management and monitoring where asbestos is present.
  • Lift Safety - Routine testing and servicing of passenger and platform lifts.

We track all safety work through our compliance systems to make sure everything is completed on time and meets our standards.

We use trained, qualified contractors to complete regular checks and servicing, and our Compliance Team works closely with them to make sure everything is done to a high standard and on time.

Emma Speight, our Executive Director of Assets and Growth, is responsible for making sure North Star meets all health and safety requirements.

How You Can Help

You can help keep your home and building safe by:

•    Allowing access for safety checks and repairs.
•    Reporting problems such as leaks, damp, or broken smoke alarms straight away.
•    Keeping escape routes and communal areas clear of any items.
•    Following safety advice and guidance provided by our team.

If you are ever worried about the safety of your home, please contact us immediately.

Find out more about how we keep you safe:

Worsley 9

Fire Safety

We carry out a Fire Risk Assessment every year in all buildings with shared areas. All shared areas have fire alarms and, where needed, emergency lighting. Flats and communal areas also have smoke and heat alarms for extra safety.
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Nst178

Gas Safety

We carry out a gas safety check every year in all homes with a gas meter or gas supply. This helps keep you and your household safe from gas or carbon monoxide leaks.
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TANFIELD (1)

Electrical Testing

We check all electrical wiring before you move in and test it every five years to make sure your home is safe.
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Aspen Ruskin 31

Water Hygiene

We carry out a water hygiene risk assessment every two years, or if the system changes. Bacteria like Legionella can grow in water systems but there are simple things you can do to reduce the risk.
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7 1 768X768

Asbestos

Asbestos can be dangerous if moved or damaged. You must contact your Housing Officer before you do any DIY in your home.
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Two people sat next to other other at a table with laptops. The person closest to the camera is in focus and is smiling joyfully.

Lift servicing

We service lifts within our communal spaces every three months and lifts within a person's home at least every 12 months.
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Aspen Ruskin 13

Communal Areas

We make sure that your shared spaces are safe, and well-maintained.
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