We take security very seriously. For obvious reasons will keep details to a minimum here. If you have concerns, please contact the managing agent.
Identity Fraud
We take this seriously. as we are based in Central London there is an increased risk of being targeted.
Mailbox Theft and Mailbox Keys
We have experienced a lot of mailbox theft in the past, although less more recently.
Thieves will get hold of your personal details (often by stealing your mail in the first place) and then use your details and address to get other things set up for themselves, such as credit cards, store account and sent to your address – such as credit cards.
To deter theft from your mail box, please ensure you have a tamper-proof lock like the image on the left.
If not, our local locksmith Worrals, will supply and fit at a discounted rate.
Be security aware: be careful how your dispose of important documents with bank or credit card, date of birth details etc. Having your identity stolen is really very simple
Please empty your mailbox regularly. There is often important official mail for previous owners, tenants or landlords.
If you are a victim
If you have been a victim of identity fraud involving your address at Swan Street, please let us know via berwickcourtdirectors@gmail.com so that we can monitor how often (if at all) residents are being targeted. Don’t worry, we won’t publicise this but unless we hear from you we won’t know if we have a problem and, if we do, how widespread the problem is.
If you have concerns about identity fraud and/or mail theft the links below will assist you:
Credit Agencies
To get your credit report you can contact Experian, Equifax, Callcredit or CheckMyFile
- Experian – www.experian.co.uk, Phone 0844 481 8000 email: identityfraud@uk.experian.com
- Callcredit – 0870 060 1414
- Equifax – 0870 010 0583
- CheckmyFile www.checkmyfile.com email: help@checkmyfile.com
- CIFAS Protective Registration Service Phine: 0330 100 0180
Royal Mail
Contact Royal Mail if you suspect or know your mail has been stolen
- Phone 08457 740 740
- website: www.royalmail.com
Other Useful Contacts
- CreditExpert – www.creditexpert.co.uk
- Home Office identity Fraud Advice – www.identitytheft.org.uk
- CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud prevention – www.cifas.org.uk
- Mailing Preference Service – 0845 703 4599 www.mpsonline.org.uk
- Telephone preference Service – 0845 070 0707 – www.mpsonline.org.uk
- A free UK Change of Address service: www.iammoving.com
- Bank Safe Online: www.banksafeonline.org.uk
Key tips
- Each block in our development has a unique postcode and its own street number. For example, Drake Court is 12 Swan Street. Each flat in Drake Court has the same postcode SE1 1BH. Because of the different ways addresses online are compiled from postcodes, mail often gets mis-delivered to flat 12 as delivery companies read the street address as the flat number. You do not need to use the street number as long as the postcode is correct. TIP: Leave off the street number from your address, e.g. Flat xx Drake Court, Swan Street, SE1 1BH
- If you see anyone suspicious, try to take a photo of or film them and call 999 or 101 to report them to the police.
- Aim to know the neighbours in your block and on your floor, so you can challenge anyone who shouldn’t be there.
- Ensure all external doors close locked behind you and report any issues to the managing agent.
- Put a lamp on a timer (and close the blinds) so that your house isn’t left in darkness when you are out.
- Purchase Smart Water to mark your property
- If any ground floor flats would like a sticker for their window to highlight the scheme, contact us.
- Ground floor flats: never leave your windows open unless you are in the same room. Before you go out everyone should lock their windows and patio doors.
Fire Safety
IMPORTANT: We have a “STAY PUT” fire action policy. Below and attached (FIRE NOTICE) is our fire action policy.
What to do in case of Fire
-
Be prepared and don’t wait until it happens
To call fire service dial 999 or 112
If a fire breaks out in your flat
- Leave the room where the fire is straight away, closing the door after you.
- Tell everyone in your flat and get them to leave. Close the door of your flat behind you.
- Do not stay behind to put the fire out.
- Call the fire service immediately. 999 or 112
- Wait outside, away from the building.
If you see or hear of a fire in another part of the building
The building is designed to contain a fire in the flat where it starts. This means it will usually be safe for you to stay in your own flat if the fire is elsewhere.
You must leave immediately if smoke or heat affects your home, or if you are told to do so by the fire service. If you are in any doubt, get out.
Do not use the lift, go down the stairs instead and make your way to nearest exit door to the outside and move away from the building.
Call 999 or 112 immediately.
- When the operator answers, give your telephone number and ask for FIRE.
- When the fire service reply give the address, including your postcode, where the flat is plus flat/floor number where the fire is.
- Do not end the call until the fire service has repeated the address correctly.
If a fire breaks out in car parks or outside areas
- Leave the car park or the outside areas.
- Do not enter or re-enter the building.
- Do not stay behind to put the fire out.
- Call the fire service immediately. 999 or 112
- Wait outside, well away from the car park or the location of the fire.
Protecting you and your household
The easiest way to protect your home and your family from fire is with a working smoke alarm, which can provide an early warning of a fire and allow you to make your escape – but only if it is working.
You are more than twice as likely to die from a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm.
- Fit smoke alarms in your flat. Test them weekly. The Fire Brigade will come and fit them for free
- keep fire blanket in your kitchen
- communal staircases and corridors should always be kept clear. Do not leave items n corridors. Items left in the corridor will be removed by the caretaker
- Never try and open the Automatic Opening Vent (“AOV”) windows in the corridor of each floor. These are a fire protection system to open automatically when smoke is detected and to allow that smoke to be drawn away from the area in the event of a fire. Tampering with them is a fire risk to you and to your neighbours!
- Rubbish should be removed to the refuse area immediately.
- Make sure that fire doors are closed at all times. This includes meter cupboards etc. If the label says Fire Door, then it’s a fire door and should be kept closed.
- Make a fire evacuation plan and practice it, especially if you have children. Attached is a fun leaflet to help teach your children about fire safety. Practice your evacuation plan in the dark too: you could make it like a ‘bear hunt’ so its not too scary.
Main Door Entry System
Our main door Entryphone system is from the time of the original construction in 2000 and (with the exception of Kittiwake Court which was replaced a few years ago) is starting to fail: either loss of video or loss of audio or both. Parts are now obsolete.
We realise this is an inconvenience and a potential security issue, but to replace the remaining 6 blocks throughout the development is extremely expensive and we want to ensure what we choose works well for us.
We did a trial replacement in Redwing Court in March 2025 and that has proved successful.
We have now started a Section 20 process in April 2025 to replace all the other blocks’ systems before the end of 2025.
In the meantime, we can only suggest that if you expecting a delivery or guests, that you give your mobile phone number in case the door entry system does not work..
Keys and fobs
You may have the following keys
- One Suite Key to open both entrance and flat doors
- One flat door Key ( Swallow court)
- Mailbox Keys
- Cycle Cage keys
- Car Park fobs
There may be an additional door key to your flat as some have a secondary lock
Note: All Suite Keys and standard flat door keys are security keys and cannot be cut at high street outlets
Each block, with the exception of Swallow Court has one Suite Key which opens both your block entrance door and your flat door.
If you lose your key or need another key cut, a request must be made in writing/email to the Letting Agent/ Managing Agents to authorise and pass a Works Order to our accredited locksmiths to obtain the key(s) – this will be at your expense.
If your key is lost or stolen you must notify BCML and the Managing Agents/your Letting Agent immediately.
For Swallow Court: this block does not have an entrance lobby, so there are only individual front door keys
If you are a tenant
If your key is lost or stolen you must notify your Letting Agent, who will contact your landlord for initial approval.
If granted, then the request will go via our Managing Agents as above.
If your key is lost or stolen you must notify BCML and your Letting Agent immediately in case of security issues
Changing or Adding Locks or spyholes
Even though you own your front door, it is a fire door, and, therefore, you cannot make changes to it without getting approval from your letting agent/the managing agents AND also from BCML.
If you alter a fire door it might not work as it should to keep you and your neighbours safe if there is a fire.
Car park Fobs
Leaseholders who sell their flats must pass the carpark fobs to the new owners. You cannot keep your carpark space if you are no longer an owner of a flat. You cannot give access to the carpark to anyone else if you do not live on site.
The carpark space is part of your flat’s lease and therefore must be passed on at the sale.
Leaseholders who rent their flat out cannot refuse to provide tenants with a car park fob for them to use that allocated parking space. If the leaseholder does not live on site, they have no right to give access to that space to anyone other than their tenants. Please make sure that the letting agent and BCML directors are aware of who has fobs (a security issue).
Tenants must return any car park fobs to their letting agent along with all other keys.
If you lose a car park fob or want to purchase a new one, please contact our managing agents
Locksmiths / Locks
Your block entrance door key and your flat door key are ‘secure keys’ and need to be authorised by the managing agents. They will then authorise Worral, our locksmith contractor to release these. You will need the code number on the key e.g. WODV 123
Monday-Friday (working hours)
G Worrall & Son – http://www.gworralls.com They do a lot of work around the development, including replacing mailbox keys.
Based 5 minutes away on Great Suffolk Street.
Out of hours Locksmith
Fortress Lock & Safe Co. (recommended by Worralls) +44 (0)20 8674 6657
Click here to send a message via WhatsApp
http://www.fortresslock.co.uk/
N.B. If you want a new door key cut, you must contact the managing agents to authorise, as these are secure keys.