Recent fires across the country are a reminder of how quickly a fire can develop and how important it is to take simple steps to protect our homes and communities.
Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They are found in mobile phones, laptops, tablets, power banks, e-cigarettes, e-bikes, e-scooters, and many other rechargeable devices. When used correctly, they are generally safe, but damaged batteries, faulty charges, overcharging or incorrect use can increase the risk of fire.
A few steps can help reduce the risk:
- Always use the charger supplied with the device, or a genuine replacement
- Unplug devices once the battery fully charged
- Only charge batteries when you are awake and at home
- Keep chargers and batteries away from flammable materials
- Allow batteries to cool before recharging
- Keep smoke alarms working and testing them regularly
- Dispose of batteries safely and never put them in your general rubbish or recycling bin
Protecting your belongings
While preventing fires is the priority, it is also worth thinking about getting content insurance to protect your home and belongings. Content insurance can help protect your personal belongings, such as furniture, electrical items, clothing and other possessions.
Rooftop as a responsible landlord, insures the building itself and arranges cover for loss or damage to the structure. However, we do not cover your home contents and personal belongings.
To help you decide whether home contents insurance is right for you, Rooftop Housing Association has teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks, and Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited who provide the My Home Contents Insurance Scheme, a Tenants Contents Insurance policy designed for tenants living in social housing.
For more information, including advice about contents insurance and staying safe when using lithium-ion powered devices, please read our previous blogs:
The importance of home contents insurance
Safe use of lithium-ion powered devices
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