Higher standards for many of Wirral’s 23,000 social housing tenants could be on the way, after new proposals were published by the Ministry of Housing.
Housing Associations in the Borough are now being urged to back the changes which, if agreed, would require them to install at least one smoke alarm on each floor and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms where there is a risk of carbon monoxide leaking from heating.
Councillor Ian Lewis (Conservative, Wallasey Ward) said: “While there will be housing associations in Wirral that already provide this level of protection for their tenants, but there may be others that don’t.
“We need to end that – safety in your home should not be a lottery depending on who your social landlord is.
“Back in 2004, the law was changed to set a minimum decent standard for all housing association properties, helping to transform the living conditions for millions of tenants.
“We now need to go further and ensure that high standards of safety for fire and carbon monoxide poisoning are also the norm. Wirral’s Conservative Group have responded to the consultation to back the changes and I would urge tenants, and their housing associations, to also take part.”
Councillor Lewis has also written to the Chair of Wirral’s new Housing Committee, Cllr. Julie McManus, to ask that Wirral Council also responds to support the change.
Data from Project SHOUT - the National Campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning – suggests that, every year in the UK, 200 people fall in from carbon monoxide poisoning and 50 people die. Currently, two thirds of UK households do not have a carbon monoxide alarm.
Tenants and social landlords can take part in the consultation by emailing smokeandcarbonmonoxide@communities.gov.uk or writing to Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Consultation, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.
The consultation closes on 11 January.
