Keeping your home safe

At BCHG, your safety is our top priority. We are responsible for making sure your home is safe, well-maintained, and meets all legal safety standards.

We regularly check, manage and improve our homes to protect you, your household and your neighbours.

 

What BCHG is responsible for

  • Making homes safe and well maintained – we ensure homes meet standards, carry out repairs, and fix hazards.
  • Fire safety – we carry out fire risk assessments and manage risks in shared areas.
  • Electrical safety – we inspect and maintain electrical systems.
  • Gas safety – we carry out annual checks and use qualified engineers.
  • Water safety – we manage risks such as Legionella.
  • Damp and mould – we investigate and resolve issues quickly.
  • Building and estate safety – we maintain communal areas and manage building risks.

How we manage safety

  • We regularly inspect homes and buildings.
  • We keep accurate records of safety checks.
  • We track repairs and follow up actions.
  • We report safety performance to senior leaders and our Board.

 

What we ask from you

  • Allow access for safety inspections and repairs.
  • Report any issues, especially urgent safety concerns.
  • Look after your home and appliances.

 

Who is responsible for what

Area of safety

BCHG responsibilities

Your responsibilities (Tenant)

General home safety

Ensure homes meet safety standards, carry out repairs and fix hazards.

Report issues promptly and take care of your home.

Fire safety (communal areas)

Carry out fire risk assessments and act on findings.

Keep communal areas clear and follow advice.

Fire safety (inside your home)

Provide guidance where needed.

Test smoke alarms and plan escape routes.

Electrical safety

Carry out regular checks and fix faults.

Use appliances safely and report concerns.

Gas safety

Carry out annual gas checks using qualified engineers.

Allow access and maintain your own appliances.

Water safety

Complete risk assessments and act on findings.

Follow advice provided.

Damp and mould

Investigate and resolve issues promptly.

Report issues early and ventilate your home.

Repairs and maintenance

Provide responsive repair services.

Report repairs and allow access.

Building and estate safety

Maintain shared areas and manage risks.

Respect shared spaces and report issues.


How we can support you further

Aids and adaptations

We help residents stay safe and independent at home. Where appropriate, we can provide disability adaptations to make daily living easier and help you use your home more easily.

  • What are aids and adaptations?

    Adaptations are changes to your home that help you or someone in your household live more independently. They can make it easier to move around, use key facilities and manage everyday tasks safely.

  • Minor adaptations

    Minor adaptations are simple, non-structural changes that can usually be arranged more quickly. We may approve them straight away or arrange a visit first.

    • Grab rails
    • Additional handrails for stairs or external steps
    • Lever taps
    • Adjustments to lighting or heating controls to make them easier to use
    • Half steps to front or back doors
    • Key safe requests
    • Small changes identified during bathroom or kitchen improvement works, such as easier-access features
  • Major adaptations

    Major adaptations are larger changes to your home and usually need a formal assessment before work can be considered. They often involve structural work or higher costs. Examples include:

    • Level-access or walk-in showers
    • Wet rooms
    • Stairlifts
    • Ramps
    • Widening doorways
    • Lowering kitchen units or worktops
    • Other significant changes recommended to meet assessed needs
  • How can residents submit an adaptation request?

    If you need a minor adaptation, contact your CRM or Scheme Manager and tell us what support you need. We will review your request and let you know if we can approve it or need to visit first.

    If you need a major adaptation, you will usually need an assessment from an Occupational Therapist (OT). The OT will assess your needs and recommend suitable changes, usually through your local authority or health service.

    If you are not sure whether you need a minor or major adaptation, contact us and we will guide you.

  • What happens after you submit an adaptations request?

    If an OT assessment is needed, the OT will usually visit your home and recommend any adaptations required. We will then review the recommendation and decide how to progress the request.

     

    If the work is simple and low cost, we may approve it quickly and ask our contractor to contact you to arrange an appointment.

     

    If the work is larger or more costly, we may need more information or quotes before making a decision. In some cases, funding may need to come from your local authority.

  • Disabled Facilities Grants

    A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is funding from your local authority to help pay for adaptations recommended by an Occupational Therapist. If major works cost more than we can fund, you may be asked to apply. The local authority will assess your eligibility, which may include a financial assessment. To find out more, go to the government website or use the local authority links below.

     

    Sandwell

    Dudley

    Walsall

    Wolverhampton

    Birmingham

  • How we can help?

    We want to help residents stay independent. If your home cannot be adapted, or the work is not suitable for the property, we will discuss other housing options with you. If you would like to talk about an adaptation request, please contact your CRM or Scheme Manager.

You can find further information via our Adaptations Policy.