How you can prevent fires

Customers living in blocks of flats are not permitted to use barbecues inside their homes, including on balconies or roof terraces. We also don’t allow the storage and use of gas canisters in our homes (i.e. Calor gas) as these can be extremely dangerous.  

If your flat has a private garden, you can use wood or charcoal fuelled barbecues, but we ask that you take every precaution to make this as safe as possible for you and your neighbours. 
 
For barbecue safety tips, visit London Fire Brigade.

Bonfires and firework display can be extremely dangerous, and are not allowed on Stonewater estates.

For everyone’s safety, we recommend that you only attend organised firework displays run by experienced professionals.  If you have a private garden, take a look at these tips for safe firework handling from London Fire Brigade.

Other than smoking, cooking is one of the most common causes of fires in the home. 

There are lots of ways to stay safe while cooking. Take a look at these tips from London Fire Brigade.

There have been many major fires caused by electrical appliance over recent years, most notably the Grenfell fire in 2017. 

Manufacturers regularly recall products for safety issues. You can check for product recall updates on the Government’s website. 

You can also keep up to date with product recall and safety notices by registering your electrical appliances directly with the manufacturer (details supplied when you purchase) or visit Register my Appliance.

Some electrical heaters can be an efficient way to heat individual rooms, with some using less power, making them cheaper to run. However, they can become a fire hazard if not used safely. The London Fire Brigade has some advice on using heating appliance safely.

For advice on heating your home efficiently and support with your energy bills, visit our energy hub.

For more information on electrical safety, visit our electrical safety page.

Smoking is a major cause of fire in homes. 

Smoking is not allowed in any communal areas of any of our buildings.

For safety tips and advice on staying safe if you smoke cigarettes or vape, take a look at this advice from London Fire Brigade.

Candles, tea lights and incense burners, like any open flame, can be dangerous if left unattended, which is why we don’t allow them to be used in communal areas. 

If you’re using them in your own home, here’s how you can stay safe.

Celebrating birthdays and religious festivals can often mean that we put up lots of extra lights to decorate our homes and communities. 

Here’s our top tips for making sure that celebrations are remembered for the right reasons: 

• Check that any lights carry the British Safety Standard sign.
• Paper decorations can burn easily, so don’t attach them to lights or heaters
• Never place candles, tea lights or incense burners near fabrics or decoration that can catch light easily.
• Keep candles, lighters and matches out of children’s reach.
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Never overload electrical sockets.
• Always switch fairy lights off and unplug then before going to bed.
• Most fires start in the kitchen, so avoid leaving cooking unattended.
• Avoid cooking if you have been drinking alcohol
• Make sure your family and visitors now how to escape in an emergency.
• Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly.

Temporary structures such as Sukkahs can also be extremely hazardous, so we ask that customers don’t put these up on balconies or in communal areas, and keep any decorations within your home. 

Most major house fire regularly occur at night when people are asleep, so you should carry out some fire safety checks before you go to bed. 

One of the simplest things you can do is to test your smoke alarm, as this could save your life in the event of a fire in your home. 

For more information on safety checks, visit London Fire Brigade.