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.
Smoke Detectors
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.
Fire Safety and Prevention
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.
Water Safety
- 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.
Electrical Safety
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.
Home Security
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.
Going away?
- 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.
|
|