Mobility scooter policy

1. Introduction

This policy sets out Great Yarmouth Borough Council's (GYBC) approach to the management and use of mobility scooters by residents in all our properties, within communal areas and in the homes of tenants and leaseholders.

The increased use and ownership of mobility scooters can be attributed to a number of factors. Changes in lifestyle, life expectancy, expectations and aspirations of mobility impaired and older people and the lack of any restrictions on obtaining and using a scooter.

GYBC is committed to maximising choice, independence and social inclusion and recognises the value of mobility aids such as mobility scooters to residents in maintain their independence.

At the same time, GYBC has a duty to ensure high standards of health and safety in blocks of flats, maisonettes and sheltered schemes for tenants, leaseholders, visitors and staff.

GYBC have a duty to enforce safe practice and minimise the risk of harm that storing / charging mobility scooters in communal areas and protected escape routes may cause.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all residents in GYBC properties, including tenants and others in their households, leaseholders and visitors to our properties.

3. Policy Aims

The aim of this policy is to protect and preserve the health and safety of all residents living within GYBC rental and leasehold properties and anyone else visiting or working there.

GYBC will balance the needs of our tenants and leaseholders to use mobility scooters with our duties to maintain a safe living environment for all occupiers, particularly in relation to potential fire risks.

4. Legislation and Guidance

This policy takes full account of current legislation, policies and guidance, including:

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Fire Safety (England) Act 2022
• Equality Act 2010
• Mobility Scooter Guidance for Residential Buildings - National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)
• Great Yarmouth Borough Council - Fire Safety Policy
• Great Yarmouth Borough Council Tenancy Policy
• Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994
• Fire Safety in Purpose Build Blocks of Flats - National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)

5. Storage of Mobility Scooters

GYBC does not currently provide purpose-built storage or charging facilities. Storage and charging are entirely the tenant's responsibility.

Mobility scooters involved in fire can release large volumes of toxic smoke and generate significant heat. If GYBC allowed mobility scooters to be stored in the protected escape routes, it is possible that the protected escape routes could become impassable, and residents could be at substantial risk, in the event of a fire.

Protected escape routes include corridors, stairs, doors, and any other part of the means of escape from any point in the building. This will include area designated as protected escape routes.

The health and safety of other residents; visitors and fire fighters are paramount. No mobility vehicle may be stored or charged in the internal communal area of a block of flats or a sheltered scheme unless a designated area has been allocated. Where designated internal areas have been provided, residents must comply with the guidance given.

A communal area is any internal area within a building which is used by more than one household.

GYBC has a duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to keep designated means of escape clear, therefore residents failing to comply will be asked to remove their mobility scooter permanently.

GYBC reserves the right to remove the mobility scooters without notice and recover from the mobility scooter owner the cost of doing so, if the resident has not stored it as requested.

None of GYBC's existing properties or communal areas have been specifically designed or adapted to accommodate the storage, charging and use of mobility scooters.

A mobility scooter may be stored externally in the grounds of the block at the mobility scooter owner's risk if a suitable position can be agreed with our Asset Management Team. This is taking into account that it should not be stored close to a door or window where fire might spread into the building; must be at least 6 metres from the building and also have hard standing for mobility scooter and access pathway. In some cases, a suitable position may not be able to be agreed.

When a mobility scooter has to be stored externally it is the responsibility of the owner to provide suitable protective covers; security measures and insurance cover against damage and public liability.

Any external storage of mobility scooters must not impact access to communal areas or storage areas that may be used by other residents or GYBC staff.

Mobility scooters must not be charged externally unless specialist provision is provided by GYBC.

Residents are encouraged to notify GYBC if they propose to store and charge a mobility scooter in their home. This will enable appropriate advice and support to be delivered.

For residents who store and charge their mobility scooter inside their home GYBC will install specialised dedicated electrical circuit to support charging connection. This will be installed at GYBC cost and only operate 8am - 8pm.

If tenants cannot accommodate a scooter safely within their own home, they will not be permitted to store/charge a mobility scooter within the communal areas of the property.

Mobility Scooters are prohibited from being stored in stairwells, corridors and communal areas within schemes and blocks of flats. Fire Exits and Protected Escape Routes must be kept clear at all times.

For the avoidance of doubt the practice of trailing wires across a corridor or escape route from a window/door to a scooter for charging purposes is prohibited.

Mobility scooters must be maintained in good condition and Great Yarmouth Borough Council recommends that appropriate insurance is in place for the equipment being used to cover any damage including within the home/common parts; specifically lifts, lift doors, communal doors or injury to people or wider property.

6. Charging of Mobility Scooters inside homes

Charging may be undertaken inside the resident's home but must not take place in the hallways, or in any other part of the common parts or protected escape route inside the block.

Charging must be undertaken in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and equipment should not be left permanently on charge.

Charging should only take place between 08:00 and 20:00 and only while there are no persons sleeping, unless there is a compelling reason, such as a resident needing to charge overnight, due to work travel, in which case we will look at further measures to mitigate the risk.

GYBC will offer annual Portable appliance testing of all charging equipment to ensure that it is in a fit state to be used.

7. Alternative Housing Options

Where a resident has restricted mobility and uses a mobility scooter which they are unable to charge in their home or in a designated store within or nearby their home. Initially we will complete a Person Centered Fire Risk Assessment and Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. These will look to develop options to mitigate the risks of charging a mobility scooter.

This may include working with the resident to find suitable alternative  accommodation which allows them to charge their mobility scooter safely. Any potential move will be prioritised in accordance with the Housing Allocation Scheme.
This could be to a property within our sheltered housing stock, or to a general needs property that could be adapted to suit the requirements of the resident. The timing of such a move would depend on availability of properties and we may need to mitigate the ongoing risk until this can be completed.

8. Alterations and Adaptations to Properties

GYBC will review each case and treat the individual residents, on a case-by-case basis. Where practical we will try to accommodate residents needs by one or more of the following options.

We will work with Occupational Therapy and our Aids and Adaptations team to review the case holistically. We will also signpost and engage with other additional support services, based on the needs and requirements of the residents.

We will install an updated dedicated charging socket, within the flat, that operates between 8am-8pm (Avoiding sleeping times), this is in line with the NFCC guidance and provides further mitigation of the risk.

We will review changes and adaptations, that we could make to the flat, to support residents storing scooters inside the flat, these options could include, a powered opening device for the front door, changing front door for a wider door, installing ramps at either the flat door and or the main entrance door or rear door.

We will review (If space allows) the option of installing an external store or charging pod in the grounds of the block.

No alterations should be carried out by residents to accommodate mobility vehicles without written consent from GYBC. Where residents are prepared to fund such alterations themselves, they should seek formal permission in accordance with GYBC's policy on improvement works.

9. Failure to Comply with Mobility Scooter Policy

Failure to comply with this Policy will result in a breach of tenancy and the tenant will be asked to remove the mobility vehicle from the communal areas or other prohibited areas.

As a last resort, if all reasonable adaptations and solutions have been explored and implemented, we may will need to remove the scooter for the wider fire safety of other residents and or serve a Notice of Seeking Possession Notice (NOSP).

We may be left with no other option that to serve a TORT Notice for the removal of the scooter, or a Notice of Seeking Possession (NOSP).

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, are the enforcing authority for issues such as this. GYBC may be served either a Notice of Deficiency or a Notice of Enforcement, if they feel that the risk of storing or charging a mobility scooter in the common parts is too great or could impact their ability to effectively fight a fire in a block.

10. Sheltered Housing

At the time that this policy was approved, GYBC are in the process of commissioning a Sheltered Housing Asset Review, which is a holistic review of how we can modernise our existing sheltered housing stock, incorporating options for external mobility scooter storage and charging options, provision of communal WiFi, upgrades to door entry and warden call systems among others.

The provision of mobility scooter storage and charging locations, externally to the building is a key element of this review and a formal review of this policy will be scheduled once this has been completed.

11. Equality

The policy will take into consideration the Equality Act 2010, Public Sector Equality Duty to protect from discrimination.

The impact upon residents who may have a disability has been considered. There is no one solution for all tenants and GYBC will deal with the impact of this policy on an individual basis. However, the storage of mobility scooters in communal areas will be prohibited.

GYBC will consider the circumstances of each mobility scooter identified and where appropriate will support with a management priority transfer to a more suitable property. If the scooter is for a recognised mobility medical condition and adjustments cannot be made in the home to support safe environment for storage and charging.

12. Next Review

This Policy is subject to periodic review and will be formally reviewed once the Sheltered Housing Asset review has been completed.