Moving into a flat creates a long list of practical jobs. Finding the current building fire instructions belongs on that list. A familiar-looking corridor, a neighbour’s recollection or a checklist from your previous home is not a reliable substitute for the information that applies to this building.
Start with the building’s arrangements
London Fire Brigade says residents should receive fire-safety arrangements from their landlord, housing provider or managing agent. Blocks may use different evacuation plans. Ask which current instructions apply to your flat rather than inferring a plan from the building’s height or appearance. [1]
This article is an advance information check. It is not an incident decision tree. During a fire, call 999 and follow emergency-service instructions. [2]
Ask for a usable answer
You can adapt this request:
“Please send the current fire and evacuation instructions for our building and confirm the date or version. Please explain how residents are told about changes, where the current information is available, and who can answer questions. Who should we contact privately if someone may need help following the arrangements?”
Keep the request specific. You are asking for the actual building information, its currency and a contact route. You are not asking a generic internet discussion to decide the building’s policy.
If the response uses terms you do not understand, ask for an explanation in a format you can use. Include the person concerned when discussing accessibility or assistance. Avoid circulating private details about residents in a building group chat.
Make a short document record
| Record | What belongs here |
|---|---|
| Document and version | The title and date or version supplied |
| Applies to | The building or part of the building the provider identifies |
| Supplied by | The landlord, housing provider or managing agent |
| Household copy | Where residents in your home can find it |
| Questions | Anything unclear or apparently inconsistent |
| Follow-up | Contact, owner and date for resolving the question |
Copy the title accurately. Keep the supplied instructions intact alongside your record. The short record should help people find and understand the document, rather than rewrite it into a new unofficial procedure.
Resolve conflicting information
Imagine a new resident receives an email while an older notice remains on display. The useful next step is to ask the provider which instructions are current and how the discrepancy will be addressed. Record the reply and update the household copy. Do not silently combine the two documents.
That example is a paperwork exercise, not a statement that your building has conflicting instructions. It shows why a version, a source and a named follow-up matter.
Check the handover at home
Ask another adult in the household to locate the current copy and identify where unanswered questions should go. If the document cannot be found or explained, the handover is unfinished. You can resolve that before it becomes an urgent problem.
London Fire Brigade also advises keeping shared escape routes clear and not wedging fire doors open. [1] Do not test a plan by triggering alarms, obstructing routes or interfering with safety equipment.
The completed planning task is modest: you have the current building-specific information, people at home can find it, and any question has a route to the responsible provider.
Read London Fire Brigade’s flats guidance →