Mobility Scooter Storage Policy

Users of Policy: Colchester City Council tenants and leaseholders, staff at Colchester Borough Homes

Date Adopted: April 2018

Date last Reviewed: August 2023 Review Frequency Every 3 years Best Before Date 31 July 2026

Scheme of Delegation

Formation of Policy: Portfolio Holder(s) with delegated responsibility for the Management of Council owned housing stock and other related properties

Amendments: Portfolio Holder(s) with delegated responsibility for the Management of Council owned housing stock and other related properties

Monitoring: Housing Client Co-ordinator

Implementation: Housing Client Co-ordinator

Approval of requests: Head of Asset Management , Head of Housing Management and Older Persons Services Manager at Colchester Borough Home

1. Aims of Policy

1.1 The aim of the Mobility Scooter Storage Policy is to set out Colchester City Councils approach to requests from the Council’s tenants and leaseholders to store mobility scooters and to ensure requests are dealt with in a fair and consistent manner.

1.2 This policy aligns with the Colchester Borough Homes Building Safety Compliance Policy (Residential) which sets out how all regulatory standards will be met and adherence to latest legislation.

2. Definition of a Mobility Scooter

2.1 The policy defines mobility scooters as being electrically powered mobility vehicles. They can be broken down into two groups: Class 2 – with a top speed of 4mph and are either 3 or 4 wheeled Class 3 – with four wheels with a top speed of 8mph or above

2.2 This policy does not apply to electric wheelchairs. It is recognised that tenants and leaseholders that have a disability which necessitates the use of a motorised wheelchair to enable them to carry out normal day to day functions would need to have a wheelchair stored in their property. Electric wheelchair provision will be considered on a case by case basis separate to this policy.

2.3 This policy does not apply to Electric Vehicles (Cars,Vans etc) – please refer to the Council’s Tenant Alterations Policy.

2.4 This policy does not apply to E-bikes or E-scooters (micromobility vehicles). Residents are advised that the storage and charging of micromobility vehicles should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. The National Fire Chiefs Council has issued safety guidance which is available NFCC_Guidance_E-bikes_and_Scooters_.pdf (nationalfirechiefs.org.uk) and please refer to the ‘Your Home, Your Safety’ booklet available on the Colchester Borough Homes website cbhomes.org.uk.

3. Legislation and Guidance

3.1 It is a legal requirement under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that we must ensure that “routes to emergency exits from premises and the exits themselves are kept clear at all times and that we take such general fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of the case to ensure that the premises are safe.”

3.2 Mobility scooters involved in a fire can release large volumes of smoke and generate significant heat outputs. If mobility scooters are stored on escape routes and are involved in a fire, there is a potential that escape routes will become impassable and residents could be placed at significant risk in the event of a fire. Therefore, appropriate measures must be considered within the building fire risk assessment to address the risks posed by the storage and charging of mobility scooters.

3.3 Controlling the presence of combustible materials and ignition sources not only reduces the potential for accidental fires to start and develop in the common parts, it also significantly reduces the scope for deliberate fires. It ensures escape routes are free of obstructions that might hinder the evacuation of people from the building and access for fire-fighters. The ignition of combustible material within the common corridors, stairways and landings will give rise to the presence of smoke in escape routes and the possibility of fire-spread into flats. Research has indicated that within 3 minutes of a mobility scooter igniting, the temperature of the mobility scooter could reach 375°C. The speed of temperature rise and rapid volumetric smoke production, occupants of a building would need to evacuate very quickly to escape unharmed. Meaning a fire involving a mobility scooter that is being stored within common exit routes, an escape corridor or stairwell would render conditions untenable in less than 3 minutes, since the smoke and heat will make such routes impassable and put occupants at risk. Even if combustible material is present in a room separated from escape routes, there is still a danger that any resultant fire could eventually threaten the escape of occupants.

3.4 The Fire Safety (England) Regulations for 2022 will make it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons of all multi[1]occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises (and which have common parts), to provide residents with fire safety instructions as well as information on the importance of looking after fire doors.

3.5 The policy will establish procedures for the safe use, storage and charging of electric mobility scooters. This is not designed to inconvenience users of scooters in any way, but to reduce the risk of a fire starting and spreading within Colchester City Council flats, communal areas and sheltered schemes.

4. The Policy- general provisions

4.1 In some circumstances Colchester City Council may provide assistance to its tenants for the provision of a hard standing with a ground anchor and an electric charging point following a formal Health and Safety risk assessment. It is the tenant or leaseholders responsibility to ensure they gain permissions, including planning, that are required before any purchase of a mobility scooter or storage.

4.2 For the Council to provide assistance, the tenant must be in receipt of one of the following:

• Blue Badge
• Disabled Person's Bus Pass
• High Rate Mobility Disability Living Allowance/Enhanced rate Mobility and Personal Independence Payments
• An Occupational Therapist Assessment
• A letter of support from a medical professional Verification of the documents will be required.

In some cases, the Council retains the right to give assistance to tenants not meeting the above criteria if extenuating circumstances apply.

4.3 If a tenant doesn’t meet the criteria for an adaptation under the Adaptations Policy they may apply to build a storage area themselves. Permission is to be gained from Colchester Borough Homes by requesting an alteration to your home as per the Tenant Alterations Policy; the overall suitability of the property for the tenant, both in the present and future will be considered if the tenant applies for permission as per the Tenant Alterations Policy.

4.4 Leaseholders are not eligible for adaptations under the Adaptations Policy and must gain permission from Colchester Borough Homes by requesting an alteration to the home as per the Tenant Alterations Policy. The Leaseholder will need to provide evidence of their need as per point 4.2 above. Scooter Storage for General Needs Tenants and Leaseholders

4.5 Under the Conditions of Tenancy and conditions contained within a lease all tenants and leaseholders are required to gain the permission of the landlord to store a mobility scooter in the grounds of a Council property. This should be done prior to the purchase of the scooter.

4.6 The overall suitability of the property for the tenant, both in the present and the future, will be taken into account when an application to keep a mobility scooter is made.

4.7 Scooters and batteries cannot be stored within a tenant's or leaseholder’s property or within a communal area unless a designated scooter storage has been identified and approved by the Landlord or specifically designed for this purpose in new or converted properties confirmed by the Landlord.

4.8 Where permission is granted, within the boundaries of a tenant’s or leaseholder’s property (i.e. garden), it is the responsibility of the tenant or leaseholder to ensure there is adequate storage provision which can be safely accessed within their own boundaries and outside any communal areas before acquiring a mobility scooter.

4.9 The location of the storage area must not block any fire exit routes or create a trip hazard.

4.10 Scooters cannot be used in lifts or stored in any location other than the designated scooter storage area which has been identified and approved by the landlord.

4.11 Charging of mobility scooters must not take place anywhere other than in the designated storage area identified and approved by the landlord.

4.12 Tenants and Leaseholders are responsible for the servicing and maintenance of their mobility scooters. Colchester Borough Homes may request to undertake a visual inspection or proof of servicing and maintenance including Portable Appliance Testing certification. Scooter Storage for Sheltered Tenants

4.13 Colchester City Council aspires to the ‘Colchester Sheltered housing standard’ and the Colchester design criteria in sheltered schemes’ which includes facilities to support mobility scooters. Stores may be internal or external to the scheme, or in specifically designed areas of new or converted properties.

4.14 Appropriate scooter storage provided in Sheltered Accommodation will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Permission will be granted for one scooter only.

4.15 Tenants will be required to make their scooter available for a visual assessment and annual Portable Appliance Testing which will be undertaken by the Landlord.

4.16 Scooters cannot be used in lifts or stored in any location other than the designated scooter storage area which has been identified and approved by the landlord.

4.17 Charging of mobility scooters must not take place anywhere other than in the designated storage area identified and approved by the landlord.

4.18 The location of the storage area must not block any fire exit routes or create a trip hazard.

4.19 There may be a charge for using electricity to charge your mobility scooter. Scooter Storage for Visitors

4.20 There is no designated provision for storage of mobility scooters for visitors to Council tenant or leasehold properties.

4.21 Tenants and Leaseholders will need to advise any visitor with a mobility scooter that they will need to use the car parking spaces available when visiting.

4.22 Fire exit routes must be kept clear and mobility scooters must not create a trip hazard.

5. Enforcement

5.1 The Conditions of Tenancy state under paragraphs 24, 37, 38 and 40 that:

• In flats you must keep all shared stairways, hallways and landings clean. You must not leave any personal belongings or rubbish in these areas. We will remove items left in these areas and charge you for the work.
• You must not obstruct shared areas or leave dangerous items in shared areas.
• You must not store any dangerous or flammable material (anything that catches fire easily) in your home, garden, garage or shed (or anywhere in your block, if you live in a flat).
• You must not park a vehicle in the garden of your home without first getting our written permission.

5.2 Tenants or leaseholders who store mobility scooters in communal areas which block access & emergency evacuation routes and/or present a fire risk will be asked to remove the scooter immediately.

5.3 Enforcement action will be taken by gaining an injunction for the Landlord to remove the mobility scooter from the communal area, or if the risk is high & presents immediate danger the scooter will be removed and stored safely. Failure to comply with service guidelines and testing of vehicles will revoke any permission previously granted and vehicles will be removed.

6. Appeals Procedure

6.1 Appeals must be received within 28 days of the date of the decision and must give specific grounds for the appeal whether it is based on the decision, policy or the procedure.

6.2 Appeals will be considered by a more senior officer where additional information is provided to support the applicants request to store a scooter or there is a material change of circumstances. The Reviewing Officer may consult with the Officer whom made the original decision.

6.3 Where an applicant is appealing against how the policy and/or the procedure have been applied the Director of Business Improvement will investigate the case and respond using the Colchester Borough Homes complaints procedure.

7. Service Standards

7.1 Acknowledgement, including name and telephone number of the Officer dealing with the application – within 5 working days of receipt.

7.2 Decision – the decision will be provided within 28 working days of receipt of enquiry, or where this is not possible the customer will be notified within the same period with the reasons and a revised target date for a decision.

7.3 Appeals - acknowledgement will be sent within 5 working days of receipt.

7.4 Appeal Decision – Notification of the outcome will be provided within 28 working days of receipt of appeal, unless additional time is required to provide a full response, in which case the customer will be notified of the delay.

7.5 The Equality Impact Assessment for the policy has been reviewed and updated and is available to view on the Council’s website Equality Impact Assessments · Colchester Borough Council

8. Monitoring and Review

8.1 We will monitor our performance in meeting the Service Standards set out in this Policy.

8.2 Reviews will be conducted every 3 years to make sure the policy continues to be efficient and effective, whilst ensuring it still meets current legislation and the Council’s Constitution.

9. Communicating the Policy to Staff

9.1 Managers and staff involved in the implementation of the Policy will receive a copy of the policy including: Colchester Borough Homes Managers, Housing Officers, Visiting Officers, Asset Management, Adaptations, Customers Services, Colchester City Council Members and relevant staff and social care staff.

9.2 Colchester Borough Homes will provide sufficient training to enable staff to understand and comply with the Policy.

9.3 A copy of the Policy will be accessible from the Council’s document management system and websites of Colchester City Council and Colchester Borough Homes.

9.4 Any amendments to the Policy will be communicated, in a timely manner, to managers and staff involved in implementing the policy.

10. Communicating the Policy to Customers

10.1 The policy will be communicated to customers using the following methods:

• Articles in Housing News and Views
• Sheltered Scheme newsletters
• Colchester City Council and Colchester Borough Homes website
• Social Media