If you have a building safety concern and it's an emergency, please call 01524 582929 - If there is an immediate risk, dial 999.

Non-Emergencies:

If you have building safety concerns in regard to the those listed below, please e,mail chreception@lancaster.gov.uk, call into any Council Office to speak to a member of staff, or call 01524 582929. 

• Anything which may allow fire to spread
• Anything that impacts on the ability to or means of escape from the building
• A total or partial collapse of the building
• Defective building work 
• Failure of construction materials 
• Structural defects e.g. the appearance of large cracks 
• Failure of a critical life safety fire precautions and prevention measure(s) 

Managing building safety places a strong emphasis on ensuring that residents of high-rise buildings feel safe and confident in their homes. As your landlord, we are committed to ensuring that your home and building meet all relevant regulations and standards to keep you safe. However, residents also play an important role in helping us meet these safety obligations.

Here’s how you can help: if you live in a building that is 18m or more in height ( equal to 7 or more floor levels including ground level), you are required by law to comply with the following :

• Do not damage, remove or interfere with relevant safety items, such as fire doors, signage, smoke ventilation systems, smoke alarms or fire fighting equipment
• Do not do anything that could increase or create a risk of spread of fire or structural failure, for example carrying out refurbishment or building work that increases or creates a building safety risk
• Help the Council by providing them with any information they ask for that they need to carry out their duties and allowing access to undertake inspections (for instance your flat entrance fire door has to be checked once per year).

Know Fire Safety Procedures:

Familiarise yourself with what to do in the event of a fire, whether in your own property or elsewhere in the building.

Live Safely in Your Flat:

Do not carry out any changes or alterations to your flat that could compromise safety, such as tampering with, modifying or removing anything fitted to the flat entrance fire door.

Inform Us Of Changes:

If your circumstances change and you may no longer be able to self-evacuate the Flat or building/Block that you live in in the event of a fire, please notify Council Housing so that we can assist you by calling 01524 582929 or emailing us at councilhousing@lancaster.gov.uk.

Check Your Smoke Detectors:

Test your smoke detectors at least once a month to ensure they are working properly.

Keep Common Areas Tidy:

Be considerate of your neighbours and keep the areas outside your flat clear of any items, such as rubbish, prams, buggies, bicycles, children’s toys or mobility scooters, which could obstruct evacuation routes or cause hazards.

Dispose Of Rubbish Safely:

Always use the bin chutes correctly for disposing of rubbish. If you need help disposing of bulky items, contact your caretaking team.

If you notice any issues in your block, particularly those related to fire safety, please report them to Council Housing either via phone on 01524 582929, or by email at councilhousing@lancaster.gov.uk. By following these simple steps, you help us ensure that everyone in your building remains safe and secure.

The Building Safety Resident Panel (BSRP) is a group of residents who live in the high-rise blocks managed by Lancaster City Council Housing. The panel’s job is to make sure Lancaster City Council is following all the rules set out in the Building Safety Act 2022. They help other high-rise residents feel confident that their home is safe, and that Lancaster City Council is doing everything it needs to do to keep them safe.

Want To Join The Panel?

To join the Building Safety Resident Panel, you must over 18 and live in a high-rise block managed by Council Housing.

To find out more about the Building Safety Resident Panel, as well as our other resident groups, please visit the Get Involved page.