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Keeping your home safe and secure

Below are a number of handy hints to keep your home safe and secure. We also strongly advise you to take out home contents insurance.

Your home will be fitted with a smoke detector. If not, please contact our repairs service on 0117 938 2700 and we will fit one free of charge.

NEVER cover or remove a smoke detector.
Test them each week by pressing the ‘test’ button.
Keep smoke detectors free of dust and dirt – you can use the narrow attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
Please use a safe stepladder when checking them.

Do:

Keep matches and cigarette lighters away from small children.
Make sure cigarettes are extinguished before going out or to bed.
Use fire retardant curtain material.
Check your furniture meets British Standards and has the kite mark on the furniture label. This means it contains fire retardant filling and won't give off poisonous smoke in a fire.

Don't:

Smoke in bed.
Leave hot chip pans or deep fat fryers unattended.
Dry cloths too close to gas or electric fires.
Use portable gas or paraffin heaters. Remember your tenancy agreement states they should not be used.

Make sure you know where to turn off your water. Should you have a leak, turning off the water will minimise the damage.
Lag any exposed external water pipes, e.g. garden water supplies, to prevent the pipes from freezing.
If there is a leak from upstairs and the ceiling is bulging get a bucket and make a small hole in the bulge to let the water out. This will help stop the ceiling from falling down.

We will check electrical installations before you move in and carry out further checks at regular intervals. To keep safe:

Use a qualified electrician to repair electrical appliancies.
Do not tamper with the fuse or circuit boards. If your electrics keep tripping out, contact the repair service on 0117 938 2700.
Use the correct fuse for each appliance.
Do not overload sockets.
If the flex has frayed, get it replaced or replace the whole item.
Keep electrical items away from water.
Switch off appliances at the socket and unplug TVs etc. at night.
Use a circuit breaker with power tools and lawn mowers etc.
Check electric blankets for signs of wear. If they are worn, do not use them and get them checked by an electrician.

To help prevent your home being broken into:

Don’t leave doors and windows open if you go out.
Ask to see the identity card of callers. All our employees and contractors carry these cards as do workers from other companies, e.g. gas, water, electrical. Genuine callers will not mind if you ask to see their card. If in doubt don’t let them in and contact the police.
Do not give your personal information or bank details to strangers who contact you in person, on the phone or by email.
If you have bought expensive new items such as a computer, do not leave the packaging in the street for burglars to see. Bag it for collection or take it to your local recycling centre.
Destroy bank statements and card receipts etc. before throwing them away.
Keep ladders out of sight and secured to fixed object if possible.

Remember to cancel milk and newspapers.
Make sure doors and windows are securely locked.
Use time switches to turn lights on and off. This gives the impression someone is in.
Unplug electrical appliances wherever you can.
Leave an emergency number and a key with a neighbour or friend so they can go round now and then to check everything is OK.

Page last updated: 12/11/2007