Safety in your home

Condensation is by far the most common cause of dampness in homes and affects both old and new properties. It usually leaves a musty smell and mould growth or spores.

A lot of moisture is produced in the air whenever you cook, run bath/shower or dry clothes in your home. When the moisture meets a cold surface, it turns into droplets of water called condensation and, if left, will develop into mould.

This usually happens on cold, outside surfaces and walls and in areas where the air does not flow well. It can damage clothes and furnishings.

You can reduce the problem by:

• Wiping moisture away whenever you see it
• Keeping a window open if you need to dry clothes indoors
• Only using a tumble dryer with good airflow
• Keeping all rooms in your property warm – even by keeping your heating on a low setting you can reduce the amount of moisture in the air
• Letting air into a room by opening a window or a door
• Making sure ventilation grills in doors, windows or walls are not closed or blocked

If you are experiencing issues with damp and mould in your home, please contact us immediately at SunderlandHousingService@sunderland.gov.uk or telephone the Housing Operations Team on (0191) 5205555.

Tumble dryers and washing machines contain powerful motors with fast moving parts that get very hot.

Tips and advice:

• Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions before using the dryer
• Clean and maintain your machine regularly as excess fluff or lint can build up over time and catch fire
• Never leave your appliance unattended or running overnight
• Never overload your washing machine or dryer or put items in that have been used to soak up flammable or combustible liquids, like tea towels
• Keep your dryer well ventilated, ensuring the vent pipe is kink free and not blocked or crushed in any way
• Have your dryer serviced regularly by a qualified engineer
• Don’t ignore the warning signs; Does your tumble dryer smell of burning? Are your clothes taking longer to dry? Do the clothes feel hotter at the end of the cycle? Does the external vent flap stay shut when the dyer is on? If you notice any of these things, clean the filter and check the vent pipe immediately.

Sunderland City Council will carry out electrical inspections in your home at least every 5 years, but if a repair is needed to any part of the electrical installation before then, including any sockets, then you must get in touch with our Repairs and Maintenance Team on 0191 561 2715 or email building@sunderland.gov.uk

If you intend to carry out any electrical work in your home then you MUST apply for written permission from us first by completing and submitting the adaptations application form.The work would then need to be inspected once complete to ensure it has been done correctly by a competent qualified electrician and is safe.

If you have a faulty appliance, it is your responsibility to replace any plug with the same size fuse and get a suitable qualified electrician to check other faults.

If we need to remove or rectify any unauthorised electrical works then any costs to make safe/remove/rectify the issue will be the tenants’ responsibility.

More tips and safety advice:

• Do not overload sockets or extension leads. Most four-plug extension leads have a maximum loading of 13 amps. This equates to two 5-amp plugs and one 3-amp plug in one extension lead. If you exceed the maximum load it will result in the extension lead cable heating up, which could result in a fire. Use an extension lead with a residual current circuit breaker or residual current device (RCD), which will isolate the electric power if there is a problem
• Switch off and unplug non-essential electrics before you go to bed and when you go on holiday. Appliances left on standby can be a fire risk, and waste energy and your money
• Visually check your electrical appliances and cables regularly. Either repair or replace faulty appliances using a competent qualified electrician. Look out for the danger signs such as scorch marks on plugs or sockets, damaged or frayed cables, flickering lights and fuses that keep blowing for no reason
• Report any electrical installation defects immediately to Sunderland City Council on 0191 561 2715. Examples include damaged wall sockets or light switches, and damage to installation cabling
• Do not run extension leads through doorways
• Fully unwind reel type extension leads before use, as the cable will heat up if you don’t

We have developed more detailed advice on fire safety advice for tenants living in our houses and two storey flats. Please see A guide to fire safety for tenants living in houses and two storey flats.

Your property will be fitted with Carbon Monoxide detectors and smoke alarms, these will be tested and shown to be in working order on tenancy sign up. It will be the responsibility of the tenant to regularly test the alarms to ensure they remain in working order, and to replace batteries. If you have any concerns about the alarms you should contact Sunderland City Council's Repairs and Maintenance team on 0191 561 2715 or email building@sunderland.gov.uk

We have developed more detailed advice on asbestos, please see A guide to asbestos materials in homes.

We have developed more detailed advice on water hygiene in homes, please see A guide to water hygiene in homes.