Herne Bay
Living in an apartment building comes with certain responsibilities towards fellow residents and the building itself.
The leasehold terms cover the standard ground rules but say very little about the vital day-to-day practicalities of sharing the common areas and the necessary considerations required for living safely in an apartment building such as The Burrs.
Fire Safety
We take fire safety very seriously. In 2005 new legislation was introduced (the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire)) that requires every block of flats to undergo a fire safety risk assessment. This applies to common parts, not to the interior of any flats, and is an obligation on the landlord, managing agent or RTM company.
It is important that the common areas, hallways stairs etc, are kept clean and tidy, clear of refuse bags and not used to store domestic or combustible items, even on a temporary basis.
A new state-of-the-art wireless fire alarm system was installed in March 2019 providing automatic smoke and heat detection sensors throughout the building. Manual call points are also provided to enable residents to activate the system.
The emergency lighting in the halls and stairways will illuminate when the alarm system triggers.
Although a linked heat sensor has been installed within each flat, a smoke detector linked to the system wouldn't be appropriate, and it is recommended that residents provide their own battery operated smoke detectors within the confines of their flat.
The London Fire Brigade have produced a guide to Home Fire Safety which includes advice about reducing fire risks in the communal areas of flats and maisonettes.
Important Note:
Fire Risk Considerations when installing Recessed Lights
Most apartment buildings, whether they be purpose built or a conversion, will have fire-rated ceilings. This is the amount of time that a ceiling can be expected to hold back a fire within an apartment before it spreads to the apartment above. A fairly typical fire rating for a ceiling is 60 minutes.
This fire rating can be compromised when leaseholders decide to upgrade their lighting by drilling large holes in their ceilings to fit recessed lights. If the lights are not fire rated then flames, smoke and heat can pass through the fitting, spreading fire to the floor above. They may also compromise the sound insulation between apartments creating a noise nuisance.
Installing fire rated lights overcomes this problem and complies with new building regulations governing the installation of downlights. Made from intumescent materials, fire rated recessed lights seal the gap between the ceiling and the fitting to provide protection against the spread of fire.
Heat generated by recessed lights also has to be taken into consideration especially in roof voids where thermal insulation may be present. It is vitally important to ensure the fitting is positioned a safe distance from inflammable material and that adequate heat dispersal is allowed for. Replacing halogen bulbs with newer LED's will considerably reduce heat problems.
If you have any doubts about the suitability of a recessed fitting you are about to fit, please consult a qualified electrician.
Cleaning
A regular cleaning regime had been introduced for the communal areas, but this has lapsed since the major works started in 2024.
Lighting and Power Provision in Common Areas
Each flat is responsible for supplying power to one or more lights in the halls and stairways. The lights are wired into their own fuseway/mcb on the consumer unit within each flat, and therefore it is important that these, or the main switch in the meter cupboard in the rear hall, are never switched off if a flat is unoccupied.
The Hall Flat also provides power to the 13 amp socket in the front hall.
Power to the fire alarm system comes from either the Hall Flat or the Garden Flat and is fed directly from the meter cupboard in the rear hall.
Also fed from the meter cupboard are the 13 amp socket in the rear hall and the two outside lights at the back of the house all supplied from the meter of the 2nd Floor Flat via a fused switch unit and RCD.
A diagram showing the above arrangements can be downloaded from the ‘House Services' section in the RTM Area.
Utilities
If you have emergency problems with your water, gas and electicity supplies ring the following numbers:
Water: South East Water 0333 000 0365
Gas: National Gas Emergency Service 0800 111 999
Electricity: Call your electricity supplier
Diagrams showing the locations of mains water stopcocks, electricity and gas meters for each flat can be downloaded from the ‘House Services' section in the RTM Area.
Refuse Collection
Waste bins are located and collected from the back of the house in Charles Street. Collections are every Tuesday alternating between landfill (black-topped) and recycling (blue & red-topped). You need to wheel your bin to the pavement on collection days for it to be collected by the Council.
All waste must be placed within the bin allowing the lid to be properly closed.
It is important that refuse bags and receptacles are not left in the internal common areas of the building as they will cause an obstruction, will be a possible fire hazard and may smell.
Flats 1, 2, 4 & 5 - each have a black bin for landfill, and 2 shared blue-topped bins for recycling, and a shared red topped bin for paper and card.
It is important to flatten cardboard packaging to avoid the bin filling too quickly. There is a case for a 2nd red topped bin but space at the back of the house is limited.
Flat 3 have a private arrangement for all their waste, landfill and recycling, using a black bin that is collected by Core Waste Management. This bin is labelled with the Core logo on the front.
The Council website gives a precise list of what can be placed in each type of bin:
www.canterbury.gov.uk/bins-and-waste/
If you need help or advice with waste and recycling problems, please contact the recycling team at Serco on 0800 031 9091 or e-mail them at:
The Burrs 44 Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5HZ
house Services
