3 - Your home

Services and utilities

From the moment you accept any new property you have a ‘deemed contract’ with gas, electricity and water companies (assuming that these services are delivered to your home). This means you have to pay them for the supply even if you have never signed a contract with them. This is often more expensive than agreeing a contract yourself.

If you are moving into your home for the first time we advise that you take readings from any meters in your home and keep this for your records.

Electricity

Before you move into your new home an electrical safety check will have been completed.

To find out who supplies electricity to your home, contact Empass on 0845 603 0618 for NN postcodes or 0870 905 0806 for OX postcodes.

The location of electricity meter: ___________________
The location of fuse board: ___________________
Electricity Supplier: ___________________
Supplier’s Telephone Number: ___________________

Gas

Before you move into your new home, a gas safety check should have been completed. In some cases the check will not have been done, for example because the gas is disconnected. In this case, you will be given the information of how to contact the engineer to arrange the test once you have arranged for the gas company to connect the supply.

To find out who supplies gas to your home, contact Transco on 0870 608 1524.

The location of gas meter: ___________________
Gas Supplier: ___________________
Supplier’s Telephone Number: ___________________

By law we must carry out a gas safety check once a year. You must let us in to do this work. If you do not let us in you are breaking the terms of your tenancy agreement. Fatal accidents involving gas are rare; however the risk increases greatly if the installation is not regularly serviced.

Water

To place the account in your name, you need to contact Anglian Water Service on 0845 714 5145.

The location of your stop cock(s): ___________________

Our property standard

We have developed a ‘lettable standard’ in consultation with your Repairs and Improvement Forum, this document sets out the standard your new home should be in at the start of your tenancy.

The ‘lettable standard’ will ensure that your home is safe, secure and that no major repairs are outstanding. As a general rule, we will not decorate the interior of the properties.

Insurance

We recommend that you take out household contents insurance to cover your personal belongings as South Northants Homes is not responsible for this.

We have insurance to cover our properties and this means that your home and any installations that we have supplied are insured. Therefore, in the event of a fire for example, we would claim on our insurance for the cost of repairing our property.

Safety advice

GAS

If you smell gas

Put out cigarettes
Turn off gas cookers and fires and anything with a naked flame
Do not use matches or a naked flame of any kind
Do not use any electric switches
Open all doors and windows

If you suspect a gas leak ring TRANSCO free on 0800 111 999

Using gas safely

Only use a CORGI registered contractor to fit and service your gas cooker and other gas appliances you have (you may need our written permission for any alterations).
Never block air vents on an appliance.
Never block outside grilles, flues or air bricks.
Never use an appliance if you think it may not be working properly.
Never sleep in rooms that have a gas back boiler.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide can kill without warning – it does not smell and you cannot see it. Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by operating faulty gas appliances or using appliances incorrectly.

We have CORGI approved contractors to check and service appliances for which we are responsible every year. This does not include your own appliances so you must make sure your own appliances are serviced regularly by a CORGI approved contractor and only used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

ELECTRICITY

Part P of the Building Regulations require any alterations to the electrics in your home be done by a suitably qualified and competent person who will issue you with a certificate to say the work has been tested and is safe. Ensure all electrical alterations in your home are done by competent, qualified and registered tradesmen. (You may need our written permission for any alterations).
Never touch switches with damp or wet hands and never take electrical appliances into the bathroom
Switch off all electrical appliances that are not in use
Turn off and disconnect televisions at night
Make sure plugs are wired correctly and check regularly for damaged or loose cables
Do not overload sockets when using adapter plugs and do not wire more than one appliance per plug
Do not run cables under carpets or rugs
Avoid the use of extension cables
Use low voltage systems for garden lighting

FIRE

Keep matches and lighters away from children
Make sure all open fires are guarded and never allow anything to come into contact with portable fires
Do not use portable gas heaters except in an emergency
If you smoke, ensure you put out your cigarette safely - never smoke in bed
Never leave a chip pan unattended and only use small amounts of oil
Do not leave candles unattended
Close all doors at night and keep fire doors shut
Make sure your smoke alarms are tested regularly and, if fitted with batteries, that these are regularly renewed
Form an escape plan. Plan together as a family and make sure that all the children know what to do in the event of a fire. Teach them how to make a 999 call and give their address. Make sure the escape route is practical and not obstructed. Practice an escape every now and then. Ensure if doors and windows are locked the keys are close by and you can get them, even in the dark.
If you have a mobile phone make sure it’s always charged up and in the room with you.

PREVENTING FROZEN AND BURST PIPES

Try and keep your home fairly warm at all times. Even if you are not there leave the heating on a low thermostat setting
Know where your stop cock is and make sure you can turn off the main water supply if you need to
Make sure outside taps are lagged and if they have separate stop cocks, turn these off in winter

IF YOU HAVE A BURST PIPE

Turn off the main stop cock
Report the problem to us
Switch off your immersion heater if you have one
Switch off the boiler
Turn on all your taps to drain off as much water as possible, make sure all the plugs are out
Try to find out where the water is coming from and contain it if possible using rags or a bucket under it
Do not use lights if water is dripping through a light fitting

SECURITY (Some useful advice)

Here are some ways to keep your home secure:

Use a safety chain, where fitted and ask for proof of identity before letting anyone into your home, this includes staff from South Northants Homes and anyone working on our behalf
Close and lock all windows and external doors (including sheds and outhouses) every time you go out. Keep external doors locked at all times with the keys removed, but to hand so you can get out in an emergency.
Do not leave valuables or money on view
If you go out in the evening close curtains and leave a room light on – not just the hall light
Never leave a ‘hidden’ key, thieves know where to look
When going away always cancel milk and papers but never leave notes out for milkman and newspaper deliverers which thieves may read as well
If you have a door entry system, never prop open outer doors or fire doors or leave them on the latch. These are there for your security and safety
Keep cars locked even if parked on your driveway
Join your local Neighbourhood Watch