Help with Smoke & Heat Alarms

D&G HandyVan are based in Lockerbie but cover the whole of the Dumfries and Galloway region and are funded to provide the Small Repair and Home Support Service.

The Scottish Government has announced new Smoke and Heat Alarm Legislation coming into effect in Scotland on 1st February 2022. The new Legislation states that all homes in Scotland should have radio interlinked smoke and heat alarms either electrically hard-wired or battery operated.

There should be a heat alarm installed in your kitchen, a smoke alarm in your main living area, a smoke alarm in your hall and if you have an upstairs, a further smoke alarm in your upstairs landing. In the event of a fire in your home, the interlinked alarms mean that if one alarm goes off, they will all go off giving you a better chance to get out of your home safely.

The alarms which are currently supplied by HandyVan will not meet the new Legislation so they were delighted to receive funding from Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee, Wigtownshire Area Committee and Nithsdale Area Committee which will allow them to install interlinked smoke and heat alarms for those most in need and who meet the following criteria:

-HandyVan helps people who are homeowners aged over 60. They also help homeowners who are of any age with learning disabilities, mental health issues, disabilities or have been a victim of domestic abuse. Those who suffer from memory loss or dementia also qualify.

For the smoke and heat alarms the following criteria also applies. Homeowners who receive a qualifying benefit such as pension credit/universal credit (with priority given to the over 60s)Homeowners who have a permanent resident who is disabled/has a learning disability/mental health issues and in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

If anyone has any questions regarding any of the above, HandyVan are always happy to have a conversation. Please call the office on 0800 069 917