Could you leave your home in an emergency?
27 March 2026
The Housing and Building Safety team are contacting residents in the high-rise blocks to check if they or a member of their household has a medical condition that may prevent someone leaving their home in the event of an emergency.
Examples where you may need support to leave your home include:
- Difficultly using stairs or experience slower movement when walking
- Sight difficulties
- Difficulty in opening doors, and using door handles can sometimes be a struggle
- Not being able to hear alarm sounds and spoken instructions or warnings
- Neurodiversity, mental health conditions, or dementia
- Short-term injuries, such as a broken leg
- Temporary medical conditions, such as a recent surgery or illness
- Pregnancy, particularly in the later stages when mobility may be affected.
If you or a household member has any of the above, we may need to carry out an individual fire‑risk assessment. Once this has been completed, we will create a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) so measures to support you can be assessed and the Fire & Rescue Service are aware of your needs.
What’s a PEEP?
A PEEP is an escape plan created to assist customers who may require additional support during a general emergency evacuation of a building.
Who can see the PEEP?
PEEPS will only be visible to bpha staff that are required to obtain and update information to pass on, where relevant and where consent is given to the Fire & Rescue Service.
If you have any questions about Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans or would like to notify us of any reason you may have difficulty leaving the block in an emergency, please get in touch by emailing [email protected], including your name, address and details of any medical condition or call 01234 619787.
