Frequently Reported Incidents
We hope everything goes smoothly when you move in, but should you have any issues, we have put together a list of common problems and simple tips to help you fix them.
Boiler not working
If you are experiencing issues with your radiator (such as it not warming up), check if you need to ‘bleed’ the radiator before reporting it as a repair. You can buy a radiator key to do this at most hardware/home supply shops. Avoid changing the pressure of your central heating system. If you are unsure what the problem is, please report it to us as a repair, giving us the fault code displayed on the boiler.
Be mindful of Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) on your radiators, as these can sometimes cause issues with how your home is heated. TRVs are found on the bottom of the radiator where the pipes come into and exit the radiator, and you can twist these dials to change the temperature. TRVS allow you to have more control over the temperature in each room of your home by adjusting the amount of hot water that enters the radiator they are attached to.
The main heating thermostat in your home is directly linked to your boiler system; but because the setting you have on each TRV impacts the heat given out in individual rooms , please check what these are set to before reporting a heating repair.
External doors
To keep your home safe, your lock needs to function properly at all times, so it’s important to look after it. To prevent a ‘sticky’ lock, use a Teflon-based lubricant, such as WD-40, on all of its working parts once every six months.
We do not carry out lock changes if you lose your keys. You will need to organise your own lock smith or pay the quoted recharge if you want Great Places to carry out this work.
Leaks within your home
If you discover a leak in your home, turn off the water supply using the stop tap before you do anything else. You will have been shown the location of the stop tap when you moved in, however, it is usually located under the sink. Once you have turned the water off, check whether the leak is a major or minor leak and report it as a repair on the customer portal.
Major
• Burst water mains
• Sewage escape
• Sagging of ceiling
- Blockages (where there is no other toilet available in the property)
Minor:
• Roof and other water leaks
• Blockages (where you have access to another working toilet)
Electrics
If you are having trouble with your electric sockets, please make sure you’ve done the following before reporting a repair to us:
- Check if another appliance work in the same socket.
- Ask your neighbours if there has been a power cut in your area.
- Check your fuse box. A switch could have ‘tripped’, causing a power outage. Simply flip the switches back into the ‘on’ position.
Lighting
If you are having trouble with your lighting, please make sure you’ve done the following before you report a repair to us:
- Try a new light bulb. All the light bulbs in your home can be bought from your local hardware store. Please note, we do not replace light bulbs and it is your responsibility to do so.
- Check your fuse box. A faulty lightbulb may have tripped one or all of the circuits, resulting in a lack of power to lights.
Blocked drains
You have drains in every room of your home that has water or has appliances that use water. This includes the bathroom, kitchen and utility room.
Learning what items not to put down your drain can help reduce odours and common repairs.
Never put these items down the drain:
- Cooking fats including dairy products, meat trimmings, butter, shortening and peanut butter. These go hard at room temperatures and will do so in your drain, causing slow or blocked drains. You should dispose of fats in your bin once they become solid.
- Oils. These usually come from plant products, such as corn, vegetable and olive oils. There are also oils in mayonnaise and salad dressings. Oils coat your drain and build-up over time, creating slow or blocked drains. Oils are liquid, even at room temperature. You can dispose of them by pouring them into a leak-proof container with a lid before putting it into the correct waste bin.
- GREASE comes from foods like gravy, fat from cooking meats, and skin from boiling poultry. These also go hard at room temperature and will collect in your pipes and block the drain. These should be disposed of in the bin like fats.
- Avoid flushing baby wipes, bandages, cotton balls, cigarette butts, cat litter, hair from your brush, food, fabric softener sheets, diapers, paper towels, cosmetics or contraceptives. To be completely safe, only flush toilet tissue, urine, faeces and vomit.
- What about items marked flushable? Some products claim to be flushable or septic safe on the label. These include feminine products and flushable personal wipes. We do not advise that these items are flushed as they have been known to frequently cause issues within drains. Feminine products such as sanitary towels and tampons should be flushed down the toilet, and should be disposed of in the bin. You should also do the same for personal wipes, even if they’re marked as flushable.