Summer safety tips

Satisfy your appetite safely:

1. Use your barbeque in a well-ventilated outdoor space. Never use on balconies or bring indoors.
2. Position your barbeque well away from fences, sheds, shrubs and garden waste.
3. Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies.
4. Make sure your barbeque is fully extinguished when you’ve finished using it and the gas bottle is turned off and removed safely.
5. Do not empty any ash or place disposable barbeques in the bin until they have cooled down completely.

Remove glass or mirrored items from your windowsill or balcony as strong light reflections can sometimes start a fire.

Ensure candles and cigarettes are never left alone and make sure they are fully put out before leaving them.

Creating a ‘safety zone’ between your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any surrounding wild area can help slow or stop the spread of fire. It works by creating a gap to stop your home catching fire from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat.

Tips to keep your garden and greenspace safe:

• Create a safety zone by removing combustible materials such as wood piles, felled trees, and other debris around your home.
• Keep grass mowed short (75mm or less).
• Keep trees, shrubs, and vegetation clear of power lines, communication cables or equipment. If you are concerned, seek advice from your communications and/or power supplier.
• Clear at least a three-metre space around any fuel tanks and make sure they are stored on non-combustible material such as gravel or concrete.

This applies all year round – never leave items on charge unattended and especially when asleep.

Make sure extension leads aren't overloaded and that any charging cables or plugs are not covered by furniture or other items. 

Make sure to discard of cigarettes correctly. Never throw cigarette ends out of windows or balconies.

60 seconds a week could save your life. Test your smoke alarm regularly – if you discover a problem, visit our Repairs Guide for advice on how to resolve it. 

If you are going to be away for a week or more, make sure you run your taps and shower when you get home to flush out excess bacteria. Find out more in our Water Hygiene Guide.

Avoid checking into your destination or sharing holiday snaps online. Otherwise you could be advertising your empty home and making it a target for burglary.

If you’re away for more than two weeks, let us know who we should contact in your absence. You can do this by emailing: enquiries@thrivehomes.org.uk

• Close curtains, blinds, or shutters on windows exposed to direct sunlight
• Hanging a light sheet over windows can reduce heat coming in

• Stay in rooms that don’t get direct sun (often north-facing)
• Avoid using top-floor rooms during the hottest part of the day if possible

• Turn off unnecessary electrical appliances and lights
• Avoid using ovens or cooking during the hottest part of the day
• Switch to cold meals or microwave cooking where possible

• Use fans to circulate air, but don’t point directly at babies
• Place a bowl of cold water or ice in front of a fan for a cooling effect
• Turn fans off when leaving a room (for safety and efficiency)

• Use lightweight bedding (cotton sheets)
• Keep bedrooms dark during the day to reduce heat build-up
• Sleep in the coolest room available, if possible

• Take cool (not cold) showers
• Use a damp cloth or spray bottle to cool skin
• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing
• Turn your hot water bottle into an ice pack by filling it with water and putting it in the freezer for a few hours.

• Keep babies in light clothing (e.g. just a nappy if appropriate)
• Ensure regular hydration
• Avoid direct sun exposure indoors and outdoors
• Keep sleeping areas shaded and well ventilated
• Follow NHS guidance for safe sleep temperatures

Make sure ground level windows are shut and secured overnight. If you're a tenant and you discover an issue, report it to us.

Test your doors and windows to make sure they are in functioning order and that you'd be able to escape easily in the event of a fire. 

You can find out how to check your fire door here: 

Reading the latest safety advise could save your life: thrivehomes.org.uk/homesafety

Even in the warmer weather, it's good practice to check your heating system is in working order. Our engineers tend to be busier in the colder months, so be sure to flag any issues with us in good time so we can fix them ahead of the frost – all possible in our handy Repairs Guide.