Getting to know your new home
Once you move in, make time to familiarise yourself with your new home and ensure you’re prepared in case of emergency.
Water meter and stop tap
When you signed for your property, you will have been shown where your stop tap is, and, if installed, where your water meter is located.
If you find a leak, turn off the water using the stop tap. If this does not completely turn off the water supply, a shut-off valve is located beneath an inspection chamber outside the front of your property. Turning this to an “off” position will shut off the water supply completely.
Electricity
The electricity to your property is supplied via the meter.
From the meter, cables run to your consumer unit (often referred to as a fuse box). This unit contains the main on/off switch and other switches called Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs), which protect separate sections of your home’s electrical system (for example different rooms or lights and electrical sockets) .
If too many things are plugged in or if something goes wrong with the electrics, the MCBs/switches in your fuse box may flip off. To fix this, just find the one that’s gone off and switch it back to the ‘on’ position.
Your consumer unit may also have a Residual Current Device (RCD), an additional switch for extra shock protection. If this ‘trips’ or switches off, you can reset it by returning the switch to the ‘on’ position. You should test your RCDs regularly by pressing the ‘test’ button to make sure they’re working as they should.
Do not make try to repair or amend any of the electrical wiring in or around your consumer unit as this can lead to an electrical fire. If you have any concerns about your consumer unit, you must report them to Great Places.
Gas
Like the electricity supply, the gas supply to your property comes from the meter.
If you suspect a gas leak, exit the property immediately and contact the National Gas Emergency Service number on 0800 111 999. If you are asked to turn off your gas, this can be done by turning the red or lever valve on your gas meter.
Do not try to repair or change the plumbing in or around your gas meter as this can lead to a significant increased risk to both your home and neighbouring homes. If you have any concerns regarding your gas meter, you must report these to the gas emergency number above.
Fire Safety
Your safety, and the safety of the people who live with you is very important to us. To help to keep you safe, it is important you know what to do if there is a fire, and what you can do to help to keep yourselves and your neighbours safe. This also helps us to the new meet Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
If your home is in a block with other homes, you will have been provided with a document that tell you what to do if you discover a fire in your home or communal areas.
If your home is a house and you discover a fire, you must evacuate immediately and call the emergency services on 999.
You can read more about staying fire safe in your home on our website.
Heating
Your home has been fitted with a modern, energy efficient boiler and heating system that will help to heat your home while saving you money and the environment. Information on how to get the best out of your boiler can be found in the boiler user guide that you received in your welcome pack.
Insurance
We insure the structure of your home, which includes the walls, roof and ceilings.
This insurance doesn’t cover what’s inside your home, things like your furniture, electrical goods or personal belongings.
For example, if a leak in your property flooded your living room and caused the ceiling to collapse, Great Places Building insurance would cover us to replace the ceiling but you would need to replace all your belongings in the room, including redecoration, which could prove quite costly. We therefore recommend that you get your personal belongings insured.
Great Places does not offer contents insurance; however, we do have an insurance partner who can be contacted via the following link - Aviva - Welcome
EPC
You will have received an energy performance certificate (EPC) when you moved in. This shows the energy efficiency of your home, using a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).