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Front doors to individual flats can save resident lives during fires, so it’s vital they’re fit for purpose. In modern properties, doors should be close-fitting, with no gaps, warping or damage, and have fire-resistant glazing and intumescent materials (materials that swell) to protect openings, such as letterboxes. If you’re a resident with any questions, just get in touch. Our factsheet gives advice for older properties and on replacing doors.

Always evacuate the building if your flat is affected by smoke or heat, or if you are told to do so by the fire service. If there is a fire elsewhere in the block, your flat should be in a building that’s designed to resist fire, meaning you need not leave your home. That said, if in doubt, get out.

Homeowners have additional fire safety obligations. This is especially the case when subletting.

Industry experts forecast that, within 20 years, more people will rent in the UK than own their homes. The UK government is increasingly looking at the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to provide greater numbers of new build housing.

Heading up Gateway Property Management’s New Business team is Grace Whitehouse. She joined in April 2012 and, over the past five years, has seen the company’s property portfolio expand rapidly. Grace explains why she enjoys working in the industry and sets out tomorrow’s ambitions.