Your Home and Safety

Gas leaks

If you smell gas:

• Extinguish all cigarettes and do not ignite a match or use any other naked flames.
• Avoid using electrical switches (including light switches).
• Open doors and windows to get rid of the gas.
• Check if a pilot light has blown out, or if you have left a gas ring on your cooker.

If you suspect a leak turn off the gas supply at the meter and telephone the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Please remember that we need to give authorisation for any repairs that are our responsibility.

Electrical safety

• Find out how to switch off the mains supply - if you are not sure how to do this, ask us now.
• NEVER take an electrical appliance into the bathroom.
• Avoid running electrical wires under carpets or lino, where you cannot see if they start to wear out.
• Get a qualified electrician to deal with electrical repairs to electrical appliances - don't do them yourself.
• Avoid overloading electrical sockets.

Fire
You can reduce the risk of fire by being careful and taking some simple precautions:

• Fit a smoke alarm in your home (if you live in shared accommodation we will provide a smoke alarm). If you need to buy an alarm, you will be able to get one from shops such as B&Q, Homebase and Woolworths. Make sure the smoke alarm you buy conforms to the British Standard and the packaging has a kitemark on it.
• Make sure that all fires are properly guarded - especially if you have young children.
• Make sure all electrical appliances are correctly fused.

IF A FIRE DOES BREAK OUT, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TACKLE IT YOURSELF. Smoke and fumes can kill in minutes.
• GET EVERYONE OUT of the house.
• CALL 999 and ask for the Fire Service.
• CLOSE ALL THE DOORS to contain the fire and stop the smoke spreading.
• DON 'T GO BACK inside the property for any reason.

Smoke alarms
Regularly test to ensure your alarm is in good working order:

• Press and hold the test button for a few seconds. The alarm should sound.
• If the alarm does not sound, then try cleaning the smoke alarm - it may be dusty. Then test again.
• If the alarm still does not sound, you may have to replace the batteries. Then test again.
• If, after testing the batteries, the alarm still does not sound you will need to replace the whole detector. (If you live in shared housing, please contact the housing manager.)

Burst pipes and flooding
Make sure you know where the water mains stopcock is. If you are in any doubt, ask now rather than in the middle of an emergency.

If a pipe has burst in your home or there is severe leak, turn off the water at the mains stopcock and turn on the taps to drain away any water in the system.

CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE CAN ARRANGE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.

Frozen pipes can cause a lot of damage if they burst. Try and keep your home reasonably warm. If you go away from your home for a few days in very cold weather, turn off the water supply at the mains stopcock and fully drain down the system by turning on the taps.

OR

You can leave your heating on while you are away to ensure that the water in the pipes does not freeze.