Mobility Scooters
What should I do in the event of a fire?
Your independence is fundamental to our core values and we understand some customers require the use of a mobility scooter to access the outdoor community in which they live.
Over the years we have seen an increase in the availability and use of mobility scooters which has increased the risks to premises which were not originally designed to accommodate such vehicles. Mobility scooters can pose a significant fire risk. Storage and charging of mobility scooters in communal areas presents a risk of a fire which can spread to other parts of the building.
Additionally, although they might not be directly involved in a fire, mobility scooters may prevent people from evacuating the building safely or restrict access for fire fighters entering a building. Beyond Housing has therefore established a mobility scooter procedure to effectively manage the ownership of mobility scooters in our buildings in order to minimise fire safety risks.
This leaflet provides guidance on the mobility scooter procedure so you are aware of how this may affect you. A full copy of the procedure will be made available upon request Therefore, before granting permission, we must carry out an assessment to ensure a safe, suitable area can be identified for storing and charging your scooter.
More information and frequently asked questions about staying safe in the event of a fire.
- What does the assessment involve?
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When an assessment takes place, we will need to ensure:
• The scooter will be stored and charged in your property
• The storage and charging present no risk or fire hazard to you or anyone in the building and will cause no damage to the property. - What happens if I buy a scooter without permission?
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If you purchase a scooter and store or charge the scooter in the communal area without first gaining permission, you are in breach of your tenancy agreement and you will be requested to remove the scooter from the communal area until you apply for permission and an assessment has taken place.
- What does the mobility scooter procedure cover?
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The mobility scooter procedure relates to use of class two and three mobility scooters by a person living in a flat with communal areas.
- What should I do if I want to purchase a mobility scooter?
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If you are considering buying a scooter you must:
• Seek advice from your housing officer who will talk to you about storage and charging arrangements
• Apply in writing to obtain permission to use and store it in one of our properties. - What happens when I apply?
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Every effort will be made to accommodate all requests to have a mobility scooter and permission will not be withheld unreasonably. However, as a landlord, we have a duty of care to all people who live in and enter our premises.
- What do I need to do if I already own a scooter?
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If you already own a mobility scooter then you still need to apply for permission to store and charge the scooter retrospectively. We will undertake an assessment in the same way for a new scooter purchase request, however, if the assessment concludes the scooter can only be stored in the communal area we will work with you to determine the best course of action.
- What are the conditions if I am granted permission?
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Permission will be subject to an owner/user agreeing to the following terms and conditions:
• You must exercise care and attention at all times when using the scooter in our grounds and premises
• You must comply with any restrictions on the use of the scooter in our premises
• You must take appropriate accidental damage, theft and third-party insurance cover
• You must maintain the scooter in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements, and only use sealed batteries.
