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  4. Home safety

Stay safe in very hot weather

Very hot weather is expected for the next few days. A red heat-health alert (the highest level) is in place for London until Friday.  

Hot weather can be dangerous and can cause serious illness. Stay safe and look out for others who may be particularly vulnerable to the heat. Read advice on GOV.UK

Cool spaces

There are local cool spaces that are free and open to everyone. Visit them to rest, drink water and stay cool. Find a cool space near you

Access Islington hubs 

North and South Access Islington hubs are closed due to the hot weather. The Central Hub is open for urgent, in-person support until 4pm on Thursday and Friday but avoid travelling unless it is essential. 

You can still access our services online and you can call us on 020 7527 2000 if you need to speak to someone. 

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Asbestos

Asbestos-containing materials which are in good condition do not pose a risk to your health. If they are damaged they can usually be repaired. As a last resort, badly damaged asbestos can be removed.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. The rock is crushed and processed to produce long thin fibres and has been added to thousands of different types of building materials.

Why buildings contain asbestos

Asbestos is very strong, heat and fire resistant and used to be cheap to make.

The Health and Safety Executive estimated that over 1.5 million non-domestic buildings in the UK contain some asbestos. With homes included, the number is over 4 million. 

Risk to your health

Asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition are not a risk to your health. Keep anything you think may contain asbestos in good condition and seal it with paint. Damaged asbestos-containing materials can be repaired and removal is only needed if there is a serious health risk.

Home improvements, repairs and DIY

Always check your tenancy conditions before carrying out any improvements, repairs or DIY - you may need to get permission from the council first.

  • Don’t drill, sand or scrape anything you think may contain asbestos when you are carrying out any home improvements or DIY.
  • Always soak wallpaper before removing. If possible, use a steam stripper and then gently peel away the paper before redecorating.
  • Don’t try to remove textured coatings from ceilings. Wash any areas of flaking paint before repainting.
  • Don’t try to remove old floor tiles or linoleum. Leave them in place and lay new floor coverings over them.

If you think that asbestos-containing materials have been damaged, contact Housing Services.

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