Storing things at home

The loft, the garage and the spare room end up holding a lot. Each of them brings its own questions, from insulation to petrol to damp.

Boarding the loft

The Energy Saving Trust says, If you want to store things in your loft and keep your home well insulated, you'll need to put boards down on the loft floor.

It suggests raising the floor slightly, so a second layer of insulation can go across the top of the joists before the boards go on. It also asks for a small gap for ventilation between the insulation and the boards, to prevent condensation. If you use mineral wool, the Trust says not to squash it, because that makes it insulate less well.

Petrol in the garage or shed

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explains the rules for petrol at home. You can keep up to 30 litres of petrol at home in suitable containers without telling your local Petroleum Enforcement Authority. To store more than 30 litres, up to 275 litres, you should notify the authority in writing.

The containers HSE names are plastic containers holding up to 10 litres, metal containers holding up to 20 litres, and a demountable fuel tank of up to 30 litres.

HSE also says where the petrol can be kept. It must not be kept in the rooms you live in. A storage place that is not in the open air needs a direct exit to the open air, with ventilation to that exit. You should take all reasonable precautions to keep sources of ignition or heat away from the petrol and its vapour.

Damp where things are stored

The government's guidance on damp and mould, written for landlords, says condensation damp is the most common form. It happens when moisture made inside the home cools and condenses onto colder parts of the building, such as low points on walls behind sofas or wardrobes.

The same guidance says damp affects belongings as well as walls, including carpets, curtains, furniture and clothing. A smell of mould with no mould in sight may mean it is growing behind something, such as furniture.

Keeping the way out clear

GOV.UK's fire safety guide asks people to keep exits clear.

London Fire Brigade says the best escape route in a fire is the normal way you come in and out of your home. It asks people to plan a second route in case the first one is blocked.

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