Tall buildings safety

Learn about tall building safety measures and how residents are kept safe.

If you live in a building that is 7 storeys or more (or over 18 meters), it is classed as a ‘tall building’ and Portsmouth Homes have additional safety duties.

If you have any building safety concerns or questions, or would like to request a building safety case, contact us at building.safety@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

How we keep you safe

Your building is registered with the Building Safety Regulator, and we are preparing a building safety case which will be updated regularly and accessible to you. We take our role very seriously, making sure that your building is safe and fit for purpose by carrying out various, regular checks and surveys to determine building upgrades and planned works.

We carry out different checks throughout the year. The full schedule is available below.

Full list of building safety checks

Weekly checks

  • automatic opening vents
  • communal alert systems
  • fire alarm testing

Every 21 days

  • routine block check
  • obvious repairs
  • communal area issues (waste and cleaning)

Monthly checks

  • fire-fighting equipment
  • emergency lighting
  • lift check
  • water hygiene
  • updating the premises information box

Every 2 months

  • Legionella risk assessment (this may be more frequent depending on risk)

Every 3 months

  • communal fire doors

Every 6 months

  • dry/wet riser visual inspection

Every 11 months

  • lightning conductor

Annual checks

  • fire risk assessment
  • tenancy visit
  • gas safety (where gas is present in the block)
  • residents’ front door checks
  • dry/wet riser pressure check

Every 5 years

  • electrical checks (EICR)

Keeping yourself safe

As a resident, you must not:

  • do anything that creates a significant risk to your building’s structural safety, for example remove walls.
  • do anything that creates a significant risk of causing or spreading fire in your building.
  • damage or remove any of your building’s fire safety measures, such as smoke detectors fire alarms, fire doors, and fire extinguishers.

Read the Portsmouth Homes Building Safety Guide, including detailed safety checks, responsibilities and building‑specific information.

Building safety packs

If you live in any of the below blocks, download Ladywood House building safety pack (PDF).

  • Ladywood House

If you live in any of the below blocks, download Standard building safety pack (PDF).

  • Sarah Robinson House
  • Mill Gate House
  • Tipton House
  • Edgbaston House
  • Barkis House
  • Nickleby House
  • Handsworth House
  • Pickwick House
  • Copperfield House
  • Wilmcote House
  • Omega House
  • Grenville House
  • Darwin House
  • Brisbane House
  • Grosvenor House
  • Blackwood House
  • Estella Road
  • Grafton Street

If you live in any of the below blocks, download Roslyn, Westminster, Wingfield building safety pack (PDF).

  • Roslyn House
  • Westminster Place
  • Wingfield Street

We’re currently preparing individual building and fire safety information packs for tall residential buildings in Portsmouth. These packs will help you understand how your building is managed, the safety measures in place, and what to do in an emergency. 

These will be added to building and fire safety information packs for tall buildings in due course.

Contact us

Out of hours

Call 023 9282 4244

Customer Repairs Team

Call 023 9284 1311
Email: CustomerRepairsTeam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Cleaning, Gardening and disposal of large items

Call 023 9268 8444
Email: housingdepot@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Resident Engagement

Call 023 9283 4835
Email: housing.engagement@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Complaints

Call 023 9260 6383
Email: hnblandlordcomplaints@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Safety Manager

Email: buildingsafety@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

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