Thousands of homes could have 'unsafe staircases'

Thousands of council homes could have potentially dangerous staircases which need to be replaced.

Newcastle City Council said more than 3,000 homes and 57 block of flats have staircases with horizontal guarding which can pose a risk to children climbing up the panels and either falling or becoming trapped.

The authority said the design, now banned under modern building standards, was a category one hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

A spokesperson said "removal works" at properties was "already well under way".

The council also confirmed that staircases in 57 communal blocks should be replaced by August, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It has also sent letters to residents of 3,323 other properties believed to have the same style of bannister.

"They will be contacted directly once their replacement works are scheduled," the spokesperson said.

The local authority took over its 25,000-strong social housing stock from the now abolished Your Homes Newcastle in 2024.

It has since uncovered 16 different areas in which it was falling short of newly-introduced standards from the Regulator of Social Housing.

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