On Monday 5th October, from 3pm – 7pm, team members from East Village Management Ltd will be hosting a pop-up event to answer any questions you may have on the building safety works around East Village.
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Balconies provide valuable outdoor space for residents, offering somewhere to relax and enjoy fresh air. However, they can also present fire safety risks if not used responsibly.
Some residents may be aware of an incident over the weekend where a discarded cigarette butt started a small fire on a balcony.
In higher-risk residential buildings (HRBs), preventing fires from starting is one of the most effective ways to protect residents, visitors and the wider community. This is why smoking on balconies is not permitted and why understanding the reasons behind this is important for everyone living in the building.
Remember: small actions can make a big difference in keeping you and your neighbours safe.
Why is smoking on a balcony a fire risk?
Cigarette butts and ash can remain hot long after they appear to have been extinguished. A dropped cigarette, ember or other smoking material has the potential to start a fire.
Many balconies contain items that can fuel a fire, including:
• Outdoor furniture and cushions
• Artificial grass or timber decking
• Plant pots and dried vegetation
• Decorative items
• Stored belongings and packaging
Wind can also play a significant role. Ash and embers may be carried onto neighbouring balconies, into communal areas or to other parts of the building, creating risks beyond the immediate area.
Fire safety is about protecting everyone
One of the challenges of living in a residential building is that the actions of one household can affect many others.
A fire that starts on a balcony can spread to neighbouring properties or affect multiple floors of a building. Smoke can also travel quickly, impacting residents who may be nowhere near the source of the fire.
While significant work is being undertaken across East Village and the sector to improve building safety, preventing accidental fires remains a key part of protecting residents and reducing risk.
Understanding why
The ban on smoking on balconies is not intended to restrict residents unnecessarily. It is a fire safety measure designed to help reduce the likelihood of an incident that could put people, homes and property at risk.
Building safety relies on a combination of physical measures, management arrangements and resident cooperation. Following the rules in place helps support the effectiveness of wider fire safety strategies and contributes to a safer environment for everyone.
Supporting a safer community
Fire safety is most effective when everyone plays their part.
Building owners, managing agents, accountable persons and contractors all have responsibilities for managing and improving building safety. Residents also have an important role to play by following fire safety guidance and helping to reduce everyday risks.
By understanding the reasons why we don’t allow residents to smoke on balconies and supporting the measures in place, residents can help protect their homes, their neighbours and the wider community.
Our priority at East Village is resident safety and wellbeing especially during periods of extreme heat. This is particularly relevant amidst ongoing remediation works which we know can affect how you ventilate your homes and keep them cool.
With temperatures climbing to the mid 30’s again this week, it’s important to plan for this period and reduce the risk of your home overheating. This is especially important for residents who may be more vulnerable such as:
Why flats are often more susceptible to overheating
The very nature and layout of flats or an apartment block often means they are more susceptible to higher temperatures at all times of the year. Flats on the top floor, those with windows on only one side and those that are south facing are of most at risk of maintaining higher temperatures and being harder to cool down.
Flats, particularly those built in recent years like East Village, also have quite superior levels of insulation and energy-efficiency which can trap heat inside more. While this is a benefit in terms of general health, wellbeing and cost, care does need to be taken to avoid overheating in the summer.
What you can do to prepare for hot weather
The government has provided checklists for things you can do to prepare your home for hot weather:
What you can do during a heatwave
If your building is currently undergoing external remediation work to balconies, a reminder can be found below of when balconies can be accessed and doors can be fully opened:
Where to get more information
We hope you enjoy the summer heat, whilst staying safe.
To receive more government advice visit Beat the heat: keep cool at home checklist – GOV.UK.
If you have any concerns about the condition of your home, please contact your relevant landlord.
On Saturday May 16th, from 12pm-3pm, team members from East Village Management Ltd will be hosting a pop-up event to answer any questions you may have on the building safety works around East Village.
Residents are invited to book a one-to-one 20 minute meeting with Remediation Lead Johnathan de Beer and the technical team to discuss the fire safety works taking place across East Village. This is your chance to
understand what the works involve for your building, ask specific questions and get clear answers directly from the team.
Date: 10th November-14th November
Time: 9am-5pm
Location: Teams or Zoom
To book your slot, email [email protected] with your building, availability and any specific questions you might have.
As part of the latest edition of the EVML Remediation newsletter, readers were invited to take part in a ‘spot the hazards’ competition to be in with the chance of winning a £50 voucher for The Fat Crab on Victory Parade.
Our lucky winner was Chobham Academy student Henryk Halat! He identified all the hazards and learned all about why safety around construction sites is so important. He met with Amelia Toft from the EVML Remediation resident liaison team at The Fat Crab to receive his prize.
Aidan Hardiment, Resident Liaison Officer for the ongoing remediation works around East Village commented: “We were delighted to award Henryk a voucher for the Fat Crab, which was generously donated by Get Living. It’s a pleasure to continue our engagement with Chobham Academy and the local community around East Village as we work together to promote safety around our construction project. Keep an eye out for our next competition!”
On Saturday May 17th, from 11am-2pm, team members from East Village Management Ltd will be hosting a pop-up event to answer any questions you may have on the building safety works around East Village.
Resident liaison officer Aidan Hardiment comments: “It was brilliant to see the excitement on the children’s faces when we unveiled the new kit and we even got to join in with some training drills. Go team HCA!”We can’t wait to see what the team do next at Chobham Academy!
