Local affordable homes

Electrical safety in your home

Did you know that over half of the accidental domestic fires in the UK are caused by electricity? Most of these are caused by faulty or misused electrical products and most begin in the kitchen. Here are a few tips to keep your home and loved ones safe from electrical fires. 

Let us carry out electrical inspections: every 5 years we will ask to inspect and test the electrical installation in your home, including any equipment we own, to ensure it is safe and meets relevant regulations - this is known as an EICR. As your landlord we are legally required to carry out this periodic check, and it’s essential to make sure your home is safe. 

Don’t overload adaptors by plugging many appliances into one socket, especially those with high electrical current rating such as kettles, irons, and heaters. 

Check appliance cables aren’t damaged and the plug is fastened securely to the cable. Regularly check plugs and sockets for burn marks, crackling sounds or if it feels hot to touch. 

Don’t DIY – any electrical works must be carried out by a qualified electrician. If you need to make alterations to electrical wiring, please contact us to discuss as you’ll need our permission. 

Check your smoke alarms are working by pressing the ‘test’ button regularly. Contact us straight away if they aren’t working. You should also devise and practise escape plans in the event of a fire in your home. 

Only buy electrical goods including e-bikes and e-scooters from a retailer you trust and follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing. Find out how to spot substandard electrical products online in this ‘Don’t be electricked’ article. 

Turn off appliances when you’re not using them and don’t leave your washing machine or tumble dryer on if you’re out of the house or overnight. These tumble dryer safety measures can help you stay safe. You can also check whether an appliance has had a safety recall using Electrical Safety First’s electrical product checker. 

Only charge e-bikes, e-scooters, mobile phones and other appliances with lithium-ion batteries when you are awake and never overnight while you’re sleeping. Use the correct charger and don't charge or store your battery in the hallway where it could block your escape. 

Read Fire England's advice on how to keep your home safe when charging your e-bike or e-scooter or watch their 'Fire Kills' video. You can also find safety tips about lithium-ion battery safety on our website. 

Visit Electrical Safety First for more information about protecting your family and keeping your home safe from electrical fires.  

What is antisocial behaviour?

We want your home and neighbourhoods to be an enjoyable and safe place to live. But if you, your family, or local community feel unsafe or threatened by antisocial behaviour, we will take it seriously and provide support and advice. 

Antisocial behaviour ('ASB') is when someone acts in a way that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to someone else. This could include: 

• Harassment, verbal abuse or threatening behaviour 

• Domestic abuse  

• Criminal damage, graffiti or vandalism 

• Substance misuse 

• Hate related incidents motivated by racial, sexual or other prejudices 

• Vehicle related nuisance or noise 

• Litter and fly tipping 

General noise that may be more obvious in summer months, such as dogs barking, children playing outside, neighbours doing DIY, or the occasional outdoor event like a barbecue, isn't considered antisocial behaviour.  
 
Of course, we try to prevent anti-social behaviour taking place in the first place. We partner with local organisations to help make our communities great places to live, and we continue to improve our neighbourhoods. Neighbourly disputes are also often sorted with an informal conversation (see these useful tips on gov.uk). 

Although anti-social behaviour happens infrequently, we take all complaints seriously and understand how difficult it can be to report if this is happening to you. Please don't hesitate to contact your neighbourhood manager on 01225 715715, or report ASB using our online form. 

If you believe a crime has been committed, you should also call the police first, particularly if you are concerned for your own safety. 

You can see how we investigate complaints, read customer feedback from ASB cases, and review our antisocial behaviour policy on our website using the button below. 

Is it a scam?

Customers sometimes contact us to ask if a call or text they received claiming to be Selwood Housing was genuine. 
 
Unfortunately, there are a growing number of scams where the caller claims to be a member of staff at an organisation. Criminals might use this tactic to trick people into sharing personal details like passwords over the phone, or to persuade them to click a website link to make a payment. 
 
Selwood Housing will never send a text message asking you to make a payment, so please do not click any links - simply delete the message. 
 
If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from Selwood Housing, please hang up. To check whether the call was genuine, contact our customer support team who can advise further.  
 
Unexpected visit to your home from a utility company? Always insist on seeing official ID and if the visitor can't supply it, ask them to leave. You can also check if the company has a permanent business address and landline phone number. Report any suspicious incidents to the police. 
 
Any visits to your home by our repairs and maintenance team will always be pre-booked by our planning team and confirmed with you in advance. All our staff members are required to wear an official Selwood Housing ID badge when visiting customers.  
 
Action Fraud has further useful tips about reducing your risk of doorstep fraud.  

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