Mobility scooters ban in council housing communal areas over fire risk
Concerns have been raised over elderly and disabled people living in council homes across Corby and Kettering being able to access mobility scooters during a fire.
Concerns have been raised over elderly and disabled residents living in council accommodation being able to access mobility scooters, following the approval of a new fire safety policy which will ban the equipment from communal areas.
North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) has green-lit enhanced fire safety measures for tenants living in council-owned homes. The new scheme includes a responsibility for all residents living in a flat or maisonette with communal areas to keep the space free from any personal possessions or unwanted goods, including mobility aids, e-bikes and e-scooters.
The council has said the new policy aims to manage fire risks within its 8,000 homes, primarily in Corby and Kettering, with the aim of protecting people by avoiding fire, minimising the impact of fire and increasing residents’ knowledge on how to be ‘fire aware’.
Speaking at an NNC executive meeting when the policy was proposed, Lyn Buckingham, a North Northants resident and mobility scooter user, said: “This isn’t about banning scooters, it’s about balancing safety with independence. For some, it’s a lifestyle choice, for others, it’s the difference between isolation and independence.
“With that freedom comes fire risk. That’s why the National Fire Chiefs Council guidance insists on proportionate risk-based policies, not blanket bans. It calls on landlords to consider the individual needs of tenants and to make a reasonable adjustment under the Equalities Act 2010.
“In plain English, we can’t just shove all the scooters outside and pretend the problem is solved. Some residents physically can’t walk 10 metres to a shed in the rain and forcing them to do so might solve a fire risk while creating a welfare one.
“Fire safety and human dignity must coexist.”
According to the council policy, for sheltered complexes, where suitable storage is available, tenants should apply to the council to use these for their mobility scooters. Where there is no suitable storage tenants are only permitted to store and charge their equipment within their own home.
Permission can be requested to have an external storage unit, subject to NNC approval, but NNC said this would only be provided at the tenant’s own expense.
NNC’s Assistant Director for Strategic Housing, Evonne Coleman-Thomas, replied: “I do note your comments around mobility scooters, but you also mention the high risk that mobility scooters present to us if they do go up in flames – and we do know that this comes to us on the back of Grenfell, when we saw sadly considerable loss of life.
“We’re not banning mobility scooters, we’re trying to find that balance to keep independence and keep all of our residents safe. For the housing service where we are aware of residents who have additional needs, we will be having one-on-one meetings with those residents so we can understand how we can support them.
“By keeping our areas safe and sterile, it can make the difference of life or death in an emergency situation.”
The measures also include the authority’s duty to undertake annual fire risk assessments and improvement actions, as well as enhanced fire safety precautions with signage, maintenance to ensure all escape routes are kept clear and giving advice to residents on what to do in the event of an emergency.
Council bosses say the policy builds on the Housing Compliance Policy, adopted in November 2024 and will apply to all council housing tenants and leaseholders, their household and visitors. The report also added that Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was supportive of the approach being taken.
Cllr Brian Benneyworth, executive member for health and leisure, said: “This is a vital step in ensuring consistency of approach and clarity regarding the safety and wellbeing of our tenants and residents.
“In my view, this policy is not about compliance necessarily, it is about leadership in housing safety.”
The executive voted unanimously to approve the policy at its meeting on Tuesday, November 11. NNC has said that the new Fire Safety Policy won’t be enforced until three months after the date of approval to allow time to communicate the new rules with tenants.