Home User Guides – Cornmill House and Oughton Court  – Hitchin

Home User Guides – Cornmill House and Oughton Court  – Hitchin

Last Updated
Last updated: Thursday 23rd January 2025

1. Welcome to your new home

Settle in partnership with Lovell Partnerships Ltd  would like to welcome you into your new home.

To help you settle into your new home, we have written the following information, as a guide, which we hope you will find useful.

The guide contains important information on health & safety issues, in additional to general guidance in your new home.  Please read and follow this guidance.  We would suggest keeping this document to refer back to as and when required.

We hope you enjoy living in your new home.

1.1 Moving in checklist

  • Inform your bank / building society, credit card companies, Pensions and Investment providers, and store card providers of your change of address.
  • Inform your car insurance company, life insurance and medical / health insurance companies of your change of address.
  • Arrange contents insurance for your new home, we would recommend that you include glazing cover as damage to glazing is not covered.
  • Inform benefit providers, your old and new council tax office, the DVLA – Car registration and Licence office, and the Electoral Commission.
  • Arrange for Electricity and water meters to be read for your new home.
  • Ensure your previous utility suppliers are aware you have moved.
  • Inform your phone/mobile Telephone Company, Internet service provider, Satellite TV Company, TV Licensing Department and Car Breakdown Services provider of your change of address and connect with any new providers.
  • Set up a Royal Mail redirection service to your new address.
  • Register with a local Doctor and Dentist.

Please note that the developer would have registered your address but if your suppliers are not able to trace your address please check the postcode on the royal mail checker. – https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode

If your address is not listed you can add this via the following website:

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/update-your-address

 

2. Reporting Defects and Repairs and Emergency Repairs/Defects

Your home and surrounding new buildings are covered under a 12 month defects warranty, known as the Defects Liability Period. This period starts from when settle take possession of your home from the contractor and not from when you move in . The building contractor, Lovell Partnerships, is responsible for the rectification of defects and faults that occur during this period.

What is a defect?

A defect is a fault or malfunction in the workmanship or design of a product or system (such as an electrical socket, a door handle, the central heating system and so on) that fails to function or reach its specified standard and may require repair.

Examples are:

  • Non-functioning heating and boilers
  • Faulty windows & doors (including locks)
  • Plumbing leaks
  • Rain penetration leaks
  • Electrical – missing sockets or exposed wires
  • Faulty door entry phones/systems
  • Faulty lighting – internal or external security lighting specific to your home.

What is not a defect?

Anything damaged by the resident, anything which is the responsibility of settle or the resident which has not been maintained correctly or anything that is a design fault where the contractor did not design it. Examples are:

  • All apartments are thoroughly inspected before handover, so any damage caused after occupation
  • General wear and tear on fittings & fixtures
  • Deterioration caused by neglect or failure to carry out normal maintenance
  • Dampness, condensation or shrinkage not caused by a defect
  • Anything caused by alterations or extensions to the dwelling
  • Blown light bulbs (if this keeps happening after you have changed the bulb, please report this)
  • Blocked toilets (unless blocked by builders’ debris). Please plunge the toilet before calling the customer contact centre. Please do not put nappies, wipes, grease, fats or food down the toilet as this can ultimately block drains and may result in you being charged for the call out
  • Blocked kitchen sinks, if caused by fat, grease or food being put down the sink
  • Accidentally broken windows
  • Heaters/radiators that have not been switched on or used correctly.
  • Malfunctioning appliances – these should be referred to the manufacturer
  • Leaks due to overflowing sinks of baths
  • Damage caused by resident/household misuse – If a repair arises out of misuse of or damage to the property then the cost of the repair will be your responsibility
Items outside of the NHBC Standard definition such as,

  • Minor cracks to exterior brickwork and mortar
  • Colour and variation of wood, other materials etc.
  • Condensation (and resulting dampness). Air your home as a lot of water is used to build your home. Keep the trickle vents open on all windows, move furniture, beds away from walls and where possible don’t dry clothes on radiators
  • Minor cracks up to 2mm to dry lined/plaster walls, concrete, interior paint, grouting
  • Minor cracks up to 4mm to stair strings
  • Minor warping to doors and trim which do not affect the function
  • Deterioration of grass and landscaping resulting from inadequate maintenance
  • Roof damage resulting from severe weather conditions
  • Fencing damage other than due to inadequate initial installation
  • Cracks and chips to sanitaryware
  • Any fault covered by a product guarantee or warranty regardless of whether the occupancy has registered such guarantee or warranty and it is still valid and subsisting.

Reporting defects

If you suspect your home has a defect email customer.service@settlegroup.org.uk

It would be helpful if you could put the 1st line of your address in the subject line and provide your contact number. If you can include as much information as possible regarding the defect, including which room it is in and where possible, include a photo.

Alternatively, please call 0330 343 0016 and a member of our Contact Centre will take down the details of the repair.

The repair line will take a decision as to whether the fault is a repair, a defect or your responsibility. Please pay close attention to the defects categories and make sure the information you provide to Settle’s Customer Service Team is correct. If you provide incorrect information which results in the building contractor attending your home to rectify an invalid defect, you will be charged for the call out charge and service.

If the Settle adviser believes the problem is a defect, they will arrange for Lovells Partnership to contact you to arrange a visit to fix it. Unfortunately, we must point out if access is refused without a genuine reason, regretfully the builder has the right to cancel the job.

If you need to call back Lovell Partnerships to re-arrange appointments or follow-up appointments, you can reach them on 020 8731 3850 or email London.customerservice@lovell.co.uk

Please note that some minor items may be deferred to the 12 months inspection at the End of Defects Period.

When Lovell Partnerships contact you they will verify if it is a defect covered by the warranty or not and act upon defects depending on priority classification as follows:

Priority 1 – Emergency Defects

Defects are treated as emergencies where,

  • There is danger to life or limb
  • There is major damage to the property
  • The property is unsecure
  • There is a loss of heating or hot water between 1st November and 30th April

During normal working hours and out of hours call settle’s contact centre to report all emergency defects on: 0330 343 0016

All emergencies are attended to as soon as possible and your home will be made safe within 24 hours.

Priority 2 – Urgent Repairs

Defects are treated as urgent where work needs to be carried out quickly in order to:

  • Overcome serious inconvenience to the resident or an adjoining property
  • Prevent immediate damage to the property
  • Deal with a potential health and security risk

Priority 3 – Routine Defects

Defects are treated as routine where no immediate inconvenience, danger or damage is caused and:

  • The defect can be done together with other work
  • The work may take some time
  • Different trade skills are involved
  • Parts need to be ordered or made up.

Although best endeavors are always made, in some cases there may still be some minor defects outstanding in the property when residents move in. If applicable, a defect list will be provided, and the developer will contact residents to arrange carrying out rectification works within a reasonable timeframe.

End of Year Defects Period

Finally, after the defects liability period ends, a final inspection will be arranged to visit your property and with the builder aim to complete any final repairs. Please note that the defect period starts from when your property is handed over to us not from the date when you move in.

Important things to note

  1. You are responsible for all damage caused by yourself.
  2. Settle will ensure a defect is put right but it is not obliged to compensate or make goodwill payments in the event of any inconvenience due to a defect occurring within your home or to the common area or for a contractor’s negligence or damage to other property.
  3. Settle may pass on confidential information such as your contact details to our Employers Agent and contractor solely for the purpose of rectifying defects in your home.
  4. For any problem that arises with a fitting under warranty, you should contact the manufacturer or supplier directly. You will need to activate your warranties.
  5. Redecoration of your home before the End of Defect Period inspection will limit your right to have the contractor undertake work. For example, if you wallpaper, the contractor will not be obliged to fix shrinkage cracks or replace any wallpaper damaged by the shrinkage cracks.
  6. At the End of Defects Period an inspection of your property will be undertaken to ascertain any outstanding defects. Any noted will form the definitive list of defects that the contractor is then obliged to remedy. You may not add to it at a later stage and are therefore encouraged to raise any problems at this time.  Failure to provide access for this inspection means you forfeit your rights to have any defects remedied, which are not already reported.
  7. You should familiarise yourself with a fire safety plan if applicable. You are responsible for smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors within your property and these should be tested regularly for your own safety.

Find out more on Home contents insurance page.

2.1 Building and Contents Insurance

Settle do not insure you for either the contents of your home or your personal possessions.

They are not responsible for any of these. We strongly advise that you arrange a comprehensive insurance policy covering you for fire, burglary, housebreaking, storm, flood, glazing and other risks as soon as you move in. settle do however cover buildings insurance within the service charge whilst you remain a shared owner.

3. New homes take time to settle in

Homes should be run-in gently over the first few months. This is because concrete, bricks, timber, plaster and other materials will have absorbed water during construction. You may not be aware of it, and it certainly will not do you any harm, but it does need to evaporate slowly and be ventilated away.

Drying out

As your home is lived in and heated, timber and other materials will shrink, and this can cause small cracks on wall and ceiling finishes. Small cracks or gaps may also appear at joints and corners of skirting boards and other interior joinery. These cracks are not structurally significant and can be put right in the normal process of redecoration. However, because such minor cracks are inevitable, the builder is not required to rectify them. It is in your own interest, therefore, to follow the advice given here.

To minimise cracking, try to keep a reasonably even temperature throughout your home, even in rooms which are not occupied. If you move in during winter months try to use the central heating sparingly at first, so that the structure of your home warms up and dries out gradually. Depending on how your home has been built and the weather conditions, this may take several months.

Your home needs to be kept well ventilated to allow moisture to evaporate as the structure dries out. Please leave windows open whenever possible to help with ventilation. We recommend you leave built in cupboards and wardrobe doors slightly ajar for the first 6 months to allow the circulation of air and to prevent any moisture build up.

Efflorescence

A consequence of drying out may be the appearance of a white deposit on walls, called “efflorescence”. This is caused by natural salts coming out of the wall materials and is quite normal. It is not harmful and usually disappears over time. If efflorescence occurs on internal walls it can be wiped or brushed away.

Reducing condensation

Condensation is caused by steam or water vapour when it comes into contact with cold surfaces (in the same way that steam in the bathroom condenses on the window).

Once materials have dried out, you should no longer experience significant condensation. However, normal daily activities produce a great deal of water vapour, which may cause condensation if allowed to spread around the home

The following advice should help reduce condensation,

Produce less moisture

Cover pans when cooking to reduce steam. Avoid drying clothes indoors over radiators. Put washing outdoors to dry if you can. If you use a tumble dryer, make sure that it is vented to the outside air (unless it is a self-condensing type). DIY vent kits are available.

Stop moisture spreading through the home

Use the cooker hood and/or extractor fans and keep the doors closed when cooking, washing, bathing and drying clothes indoors.

Do not switch off the main isolator switch to the extractors in the bathroom or kitchen at any time as they are needed to ventilate these rooms.

Ventilate moisture away

Ventilation is needed to get rid of the moisture that is naturally produced every day in your home. Your windows are fitted with trickle vents which should be always left open and opening windows will also help to maintain a comfortable environment.

Provide even heating

Homes where the heating is off all day because the occupants are out, are more likely to suffer condensation problems than those heated more continuously. This is because, when normal activities such as washing and cooking are carried out in the evening, the home has been unheated for long periods and so surfaces are cold.

Make sure the central heating timer is set so that your home is warm by the time you return home. During very cold weather it is better to leave the heating on during the day to maintain an even temperature. The temperature can be set a few degrees lower and turned up when you return.

Most heating systems operate inefficiently if turned completely on and off. Use your thermostat to control heating operation. This will be more efficient and help to reduce fuel bills.

4. Keeping your new home in good condition

This section explains how to maintain your new home.

Walls

The walls within your property are constructed using stud metal frames, plasterboard and plastered over. Electric cables and pipe work run behind the plasterboard. The plasterboard is painted.

No fixings should be attached using drilled holes during the first 12 months of occupation of your home.  This is because your home is still within the Defects Liability Period, and drilling walls could invalidate your warranty and right to repairs during this period.

After 12 months has passed, when fixing into a metal framed wall, you first need to ensure that you are not fixing into the electrical wiring or any pipe work. A cable detector which can be purchased from a DIY shop should be used to ensure you are not fixing into the electrical wiring or piping. Combined metal, voltage and stud detectors are also available.

When fixing into the walls, ensure you use plasterboard appropriate fixings which can be bought at DIY stores.

Ceilings

Your ceilings are constructed of metal frame system and plasterboard. You should not hang items from or fix items to the ceilings.

Flooring

Vinyl sheet flooring – To maintain your vinyl floors, vacuum the dust and then mop use a cleaning detergent which is specifically for vinyl flooring.

Carpet flooring – Light vacuuming on a daily basis is recommended to remove surface dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabric. Carpeted areas should be given a thorough vacuum clean at least once a week.

Doors and Windows

Open and close windows & doors with the utmost care to ensure they do not get damaged unnecessarily. Clean them as often as necessary to maintain them in good condition. We would recommend buying a silicone spray (such as WD40) to use in the hinges, as for the first few months windows and doors can become stiff.

Bathroom

Your bathroom sanitaryware is generally a white porcelain type product which has a hard-wearing surface. These surfaces should be kept clean using bathroom cleaning detergents. Do not use abrasive pads as they will scratch the glaze and cause it to look dull and start to have dirt stuck in the scratches.

Over time black mould may start to grow along the edges of baths, shower trays and hand basins. This can be prevented by putting bleach along these edges and scrubbing with an old toothbrush on a regular basis. Ensure this toothbrush is out of the reach of children.

Toilet paper is the only item that can be flushed down the toilet.  Do not flush unsuitable items down the toilet as this will cause blockages, and if a plumber is required to unblock the toilet as a result of your misuse, you, as a resident, may be liable for the cost.

Kitchen

It is a good idea to keep food covered and sealed to discourage unwanted guests such as ants, mice and rats moving in.

General care of kitchen cabinets

To keep your units in good condition, it is advisable to check regularly that the hinges and drawer runners have not loosened, placing extra pressure on the components.

Cleaning of kitchen units

Using a clean damp cloth apply a small amount of mild detergent/soft soap to the area to be cleaned and wipe over the surface in one direction. Then wipe over with a clean dry cloth.

Hinges

Never lean on partially open doors in order to gain access to base units. The hinges are specified to suit the weight of the door plus a small additional weight such as wire racks to hold cleaning cloths etc.

Shelves

Shelves should not be overloaded to the extent that bowing occurs.

Worktops

Spillages onto worktops and in units should be cleaned immediately. Never cut or chop food directly on the worktop surface, use a chopping board. Never place hot pans or cigarettes on the worktop, use protective mats and ashtrays as appropriate. Most everyday stains can be removed with a mild abrasive cleaner, but harsh scouring powders should be avoided. Certain chemicals and strong dyes can cause discoloration and damage to surfaces. Keep food covered and sealed to discourage unwanted guests such as ants, mice and rats moving in.

Drawers

Do not lean on partially open drawers, this will cause the drawer box to part from the runner. Ensure that the runners are kept clean of dust etc.

Stainless Steel Sinks

Routine care of your stainless steel sink is easy following this simple procedure,

  • After use wipe the bowl and drainer with a soft damp cloth and rinse with water. An application of a suitable cream cleaner will avoid a build-up of dull film of waterborne deposits.
  • Care should be taken with sharp hard objects which will scratch the surface.
  • Staining of stainless steel in most cases is due to something being deposited on the steel rather than an attack on the material itself. The most common form of staining is the build-up of a thin film of waterborne deposits often first seen as a rainbow effect.
  • Should a film appear it can easily be removed with a soft damp cloth and a suitable cream cleaner, which should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water and the sink dried.
  • DO NOT try to remove stains with undiluted bleach. This will cause pitting and permanent staining of the surface. Bleaches if used should always be diluted as the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • DO NOT use wire wool cleaning pads. These will mark the surface of the sink and leave tiny particles of wire embedded in the surface which will rust and leave small brown rust stains.
  • Wipe all corrosive foodstuffs i.e. fruit juices, damp salt, vinegar and mayonnaise from the sink which will cause staining and pitting if left.
  • It is strongly recommended that stainless steel sinks are not used for soaking clothes or cleaning clothes in cleaning agents.
  • DO NOT kneel on drainers whilst cleaning windows etc. this will dent the surface and in the case of sit-on sinks will crease the front edge which will then obstruct the drawer below.

Electrical goods

It is advised to maintain and keep clean your washing machine, cooker and oven, microwave oven, overhead hob extractor, dishwasher, kettle and toaster as per the manufacturers’ recommendations as stated in their instruction manuals.

Ventilation

Your bathroom is fitted with extractor fan. This extractor fan has an isolator switch which is clearly labelled. This switch should not be turned off. The extractor fan comes on automatically when the bathroom light is switched on and turns off a little while after the light has been switched off. The extract system is an energy efficient continuous running system which provides background ventilation to your home. When you undertake activities in the bathrooms and kitchen, like bathing or cooking, if available, press the ventilation boost button, this will increase the extract rate to help remove vapour and cooking smells.

The kitchen cooker hood provides extraction , use during cooking.

Do not interfere with or cover the extractor fans. Clean any build-up of dust from grills on a regular basis.

Painting and Decorating

No decoration should be undertaken within the first 12 months of occupation of your home. Walls should not be wallpapered until at least 12 months after the building has been completed, as wallpaper prevents the walls from drying out and the wallpaper will peel.

Painting should be carried out as necessary due to wear and tear. Walls and timber surfaces should be cleaned before painting. Loose and flaking paint should be removed by sanding or scraping. Use the appropriate type of paint for the surface in need of painting. Refer to the paint manufacturer’s instructions for correct use of the paint. Obtain advice from a DIY store if you are in doubt.

Lighting and Light bulbs

All the light fittings in your home are fitted with low energy lamps. These lamps may take a few minutes to ‘warm up’ to give their full light output.

Any electrical alterations, including changing light fittings, can only be carried out by competent electricians by law. Do not do any electrical work by yourself.

To change light bulbs, the light switch must in the off position. It is advisable to replace the bulb with the same type of bulb that was removed.

Low energy light bulbs come in numerous types, styles, colours, and ultimately quality, some are even dimmable. A higher quality bulb will have a much shorter warm up period, last longer and likely produce a more aesthetically pleasing type of light.

Look out for the colour rating of the bulb – 2000K will be quite a ‘yellow/warm light’, 3500K will provide a much brighter ‘whiter’ light and is better for reading but can be harsh when looked at directly.

Various types of bulbs are available from general DIY stores, supermarkets and online such as www.lightbulbs-direct.com amongst other websites. Be sure to order the right kind (examine or take the old bulb with you), and that the room fitting will be able to power the wattage of bulb you have selected.

 

5. Energy Use

Electricity

  • Most of your electricity is supplied from the mains through an underground cable, which is connected to your electricity meter. Cables leading from the meter are connected to your consumer unit.

Consumer Unit

The consumer unit contains the main on/off switch and a number of miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), which protect individual circuits. MCBs are provided to automatically disconnect the supply of electricity if one of the circuits is overloaded or if there is a fault. They can be reset by returning the switch to the ‘on’ position.

Residual current device

In addition, there may be a residual current device (RCD) which provides additional shock protection. A RCD which has ‘tripped’ can be reset by returning the switch to the ‘on’ position. The correct operation of the RCD should be checked from time to time by pressing the ‘test’ button.

Keeping safe

If a miniature circuit breaker or residual current device trips repeatedly this may indicate a fault with an appliance or the installation.

If the switches keep tripping please call settle customer services.

Electricity is distributed around the home by cables, which are normally concealed in floors and walls. Cables that are not protected by metal conduit (pipe) are usually run in the following areas of the wall:

  • Vertically above or below a socket outlet or switch being served
  • Horizontally either side of the socket or switch
  • Horizontally in a band within 150mm (6”) of the ceiling
  • Vertically in a band within 150mm (6”) of the corner of a room in each wall.

Cables may run in any position above a ceiling or under a floor.

Before fixing to walls, floors and ceilings always check for buried pipes and cables using a detector available from DIY stores.

PV Panels

PV panels provide solar generated electricity there are a number of panels installed on the roof of the building, these are managed by settle.  There is a system in place which means that each apartment has been set up to receive a portion of the electricity supply from the PVs installed on the roof, to help reduce individual electricity bills.

The Solar PV generates electricity during daylight hours so the occupants should be advised to utilise the electricity during these times (i.e. washing machines, dishwashers, etc) to benefit from the generated electricity. There are no battery systems to store the energy for use later in the day on these units, so if the electricity is not used directly, it will be exported back to the grid.

Water

Water is supplied by the water company through an underground service pipe which is fitted with a stop valve at the boundary to your property for use by the water company in an emergency.

As it enters your home, its flow is controlled by the main stop valve, which allows you to turn off the supply in an emergency or for maintenance. Please see the section on equipment and facilities to see where your stop valve is located.

It is important for you to know where the main stop valve is. From your stop valve water enters the ‘rising main’ and is distributed around the home via an indirect or direct feed system.

Direct feed system

All cold water taps and WC are fed from the rising main. Hot water is provided at mains pressure by an unvented hot water storage system or a combination boiler.

Never attempt to service or alter an unvented system yourself, an explosion could result. To check whether your system is direct or indirect, close the main stop valve. If the system is direct, the flow will be cut off to all cold water taps and WCs; if it is indirect, only the kitchen sink should be affected.

The main water stop valve within your home enables water to be turned off in the event of an emergency or if you leave your home for long periods. If, when you move in, there is no water, you may have to open the water stop valve.

It is suggested that you turn off the main water stop valve when you go away during frosty weather.

Indirect Feed System

The rising main supplies water to a storage cistern, usually in the loft. From there, it is fed by gravity to the taps, WC cisterns and the hot water cylinder. Usually only the kitchen tap is connected directly to the rising main for drinking water. Drinking water should only be taken from the kitchen sink. A close-fitting cover and insulation should be provided to the water storage system – these should not be removed.

6. Maintenance

Smoke and Heat Alarms

The smoke and heat alarms fitted in your home are mains operated. You should check both alarms once a week by pressing the test button. Smoke and Heat alarms should be kept clean by the occasional use of a vacuum cleaner.

Sanitaryware

Your bathroom sanitaryware is white porcelain. Surfaces should be kept clean using bathroom cleaning detergents. Do not use abrasive pads as they will scratch the glaze and cause it to look dull and become more difficult to keep clean. Do not flush unsuitable items down the toilet as this will cause blockages. If a plumber is required to unblock the toilet as a result of your misuse, you will be liable for the cost.

Connecting appliances

Be careful if you are connecting kitchen appliances to the water supply and drainage. Check that hoses are properly connected and tightened before turning the water on.

It is a good idea to re-check the connections once the appliances have been in use for a day or two – dripping connections can cause serious damage.

Shower Curtains

Please note residents re responsible for purchasing replacement shower curtains for their property as and when required.

General

You are strongly advised against the use of ladders to access external areas of buildings as this poses significant risk of falling from height.

7. Safety

Access

Access must be provided under the terms of your tenancy and settle has the right to enter your property:

  • In the event of an emergency and if you cannot be contacted. This right will be used, for example, when a burst water pipe in your home is causing serious damage to other properties.
  • For the purpose of assessing or carrying out defects work to your property or the common area (this would normally only be deemed necessary where there was a noticeable problem).
  • If entry must be forced, you will bear the costs of replacing locks for the purpose of re-securing your home.
  • Access for undertaking repairs needs to be provided within normal working hours. If you cannot be home, you should arrange for a key to be left with a neighbour or a friend to be home to provide access.
  • If access cannot be given you may forego your rights to repairs.
  • Your personal details are treated as confidential and in line with settle’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policies and will only be passed to a third party to be used in getting your repairs completed.

Electricity

Always hire a licensed electrician to carry out any repairs. You can find details of electrical contractors registered with one of the schemes approved by The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) here: http://www.competentperson.co.uk/

  • Don’t remove a plug from a power point by pulling on the cord; pull the plug instead.
  • Never plug adaptors into adaptors and avoid using adaptors filled with plugs where possible.
  • Switch off electrical items that are not in regular use at the plug and ensure that when you are away from the house for any length of time that you unplug electrical items. Items left plugged in can be a fire risk and waste energy if left on standby.
  • Do not use any electrical items in the bathroom unless specifically designed for use there, e.g. shavers and electric toothbrushes. Even with these items however, take care not to get wet and avoid plugging and unplugging with wet hands.
  • Do not use items with damaged cords so that the wires are exposed. Either repair or replace. Check items regularly.
  • Do not use damaged sockets, replace with care when necessary.
  • Ensure any electrical items are approved standard when purchasing and keep them correctly maintained where necessary. Look for the BEAB seal of approval.
  • Do not use electrical equipment outside if it’s raining.
  • Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit.

Remember: Electricity is dangerous and can kill.

Gas

There are no gas services in your home and settle do not permit any persons to install any gas services in the future.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas. It cannot be seen, smelt or tasted, and can be fatal when high levels are inhaled. Symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to those of the flu and allergies. Carbon monoxide poisoning may also be misdiagnosed as a headache, stroke, food poisoning or heart disease.

Sources of CO include:

  • The burning of any solid or liquid fuel in the home, such as a gas oven as a heater
  • Air leaks from gas boilers, water heaters or fireplaces
  • Ventless heater, fireplaces or stoves
  • Car exhaust from attached garage

As there are no gas services in your home or any appliance that has the potential to omit carbon monoxide, your home has not been fitted with a carbon monoxide alarm. Should you introduce an appliance that has the potential to omit carbon monoxide, such as a plug-in electric heater, it is your responsibility to purchase and install a carbon monoxide monitor. In that instance please maintain your alarm in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Fire safety

Fires can start suddenly and spread quickly, damaging your home and furniture and putting lives in danger. They are caused in a variety of ways, but there are a few simple hints you can follow to prevent them starting:

  • Keep all fires and heaters well-guarded, especially open fires. For fitted or portable heaters with a built-in guard, give extra protection by adding a surrounding guard particularly if you have young children or older people in the home. For children, use a nursery guard with side clips that fit into fixed wall brackets.
  • Keep portable heaters and candles away from furniture and curtains. Position safely where they cannot be knocked over.
  • Don’t dry or air clothes over or near the fire, or the cooker.
  • Do not smoke in bed.
  • Many fires start in the kitchen, especially fat fires. Never leave a pan unattended when deep fat frying and watch for overheating. For safer frying use oven chips or a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer.
  • If there are children around, keep matches and lighters well out of reach.
  • Fit approved smoke detectors on each floor. Choose a smoke alarm that is mains operated or one with a long life (ten year) battery.
  • Plan your escape route.
  • Remember – Get out, stay out and call the fire brigade.

Fire Evacuation Strategy

In the event of a fire, it is your responsibility to exit the apartment and, where possible, the building.

Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.  Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm. This is a great way to get children involved in fire safety in a non-threatening way.

If you are in Oughton Court and your fire alarm is triggered, a care provider will contact you to investigate the cause.

Your front door is a fire door. This is heavier than standard internal door and is fitted with a self-closing device. For your own safety you should not remove or disable the door closer or leave doors propped open.

Do not use the lifts in the event of a fire and if you are unable to use the stairs you should wait in the stairwell for the emergency services to rescue you.

The procedure for evacuating the home in the event of a fire is as follows:

  1. In the event of a fire, the occupants would be expected to alert others in the home, closing the doors as they make their way out of the building, make sure all occupants of your apartment leave with you.
  2. Do not put yourself in danger by trying to put out the fire.
  3. Call and await the fire brigade.  Wait a safe distance from the building, perhaps across the road form the site (the other side of John Barker Place).

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8. Telecommunications

Telephone and internet connection

Telephone sockets have been provided in your home. Contact a Telephone Service Provider to arrange the connection of your line to all the sockets. This connection enables a fixed telephone or landline to be activated and an internet service provider to connect you to the internet.

Digital Television Aerial

Each apartment has a Freeview aerial installed with TV points located in Lounge & master bedroom.

9. Energy Saving Advice

Your new home has been designed and constructed to high energy efficiency standards to minimise running costs and reduce CO2 emissions. For example, 100% of the light fittings in your home are low energy fittings. If any appliances have been installed in your new home, please ensure you read and keep safe the manufacturer’s information and user manuals.

The following guidance will help reduce your energy use, running costs and CO2 emissions:

Turn your radiators down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £55 per year. Set your heating and hot water to come on only when required.

Is your water too hot? Where installed, your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F

Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows, making sure they do not cover radiators or heaters. Try to avoid putting furniture in front of radiators or heaters. It will prevent maximum circulation of heat.

Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Don’t leave appliances on standby unnecessarily and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.

If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads. If you have a dishwasher, try and use the low temperature/economy setting and ensure you wash a full load.

Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).

A dripping hot water tap wastes energy. In one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so make sure they’re fully turned off! An ordinary shower uses approximately 60% less water than a bath.

Use energy saving light bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £65 over its lifetime if you’re replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.

Energy Logos for White Goods and Appliances

The energy logos can help you to make an informed decision when buying new appliances and fittings for your home. These logos can be found on all new appliances and show how efficient the appliance is.

 Old style label:

Old style label

 

New style label:

New style label

New style energy labels

As before, appliances are rated from green (most efficient) to red (least efficient). The labels now also show the total energy consumption and other information which is relevant to the particular product, such as the water consumption, noise levels.

Previously the top rating was an ‘A’ but this could now be ‘A+’ or ‘A++’ or even ‘A+++’.

The label tells you how much electricity is used, measured in kilowatts per hour (kWh).

The less energy you use, the more you will save on your energy bills, depending on how you actually use the appliance and how much you pay for electricity in your individual tariff.

New style 1

European Ecolabel

Products with this label have been independently assessed and meet strict environmental criteria, which considers more than just the energy consumption. These products will be amongst the best in their class.

Energy Star

Energy Star

Only office equipment will display these labels, showing that the products meet the EU energy efficiency standards.

Energy Saving Trust Label

Energy Saving Trust Label

Only the most energy efficient products display this label, usually only the top 20 per cent of those available.

When purchasing appliances, keep an eye out for their rating for energy and water use, found on the Energy Label. The fact that the white goods have a high energy efficiency rating does not necessarily mean that they have low water consumption. Buying the wrong white goods can noticeably increase your total water consumption.

Please visit www.waterwise.org.uk and/or www.sust-it.net for further information.

Quick tips for Energy saving

Washing Machines

  • Wash at the lowest temperature that will give efficient results.
  • Wait until you have a full load or use the ‘half load’ setting to reduce water.
  • Use short wash cycles for lightly soiled items.
  • Consider buying a shower wash type of washing machine.
  • If you are planning to use a tumble dryer, choose a washing machine with a high spin to save on drying time.

Tumble Dryers

  • Unless you need to dry things quickly, or have limited space available, natural drying is an effective and more environmentally friendly choice.
  • Avoid setting the dryer timer for longer than necessary. Set it for a shorter time and re-set if necessary.
  • When drying large items that tend to roll into a ball, stop and unroll them half way through the drying period.
  • Choose a dryer with a dryness controller.
  • Ensure proper ventilation.

Dishwashers

  • Always wait until the machine is full before running it. For lightly soiled items some dishwashers have economy programmes that reduce the washing temperature and/or shorten the washing time.

Irons

  • Do not leave an iron switched ‘on’ if you are not going to use it within 5 minutes.

Washer Dryers

  • Washer dryers save space and often cost less than two separate machines. They usually hold less than a traditional tumble dryer – you can’t wash a second load until the first load has finished drying, and they usually use an air/water heat exchanger, which means that heat extracted in the condenser is lost to the drain. Washer dryers can give a perfectly satisfactory service.
  • Wait until you have a full load before using the washer and/or tumble dryer.
  • If the machine has an energy saving load setting use it whenever possible.
  • Use low temperature settings for lightly soiled items.

Kettles

  • When you choose your kettle consider buying a jugstyle model or an energy efficient one.
  • Remove lime scale from your kettle regularly.
  • When boiling water use a kettle – not a pan.
  • Only heat as much water as you need in the kettle, but remember to always cover the element.

Fridges & Freezers

  • Try to keep your freezer at least three quarters full.
  • Do not put warm food into the fridge.
  • Defrost your fridge or freezer regularly and avoid leaving the door open longer than necessary.
  • Check that the door seal on your fridge is working effectively by closing on a piece of paper to see if it is held tight. If your fridge builds up frost too quickly the door seal could be faulty.
  • If your fridge or freezer is more than 10 years old, you could make significant savings by replacing it with a modern model. When you dispose of your old fridge or freezer make sure that the CFC refrigerant will be recovered safely and not allowed to escape into the atmosphere.  Most local authorities or reputable suppliers of new appliances will do this for you.

Cooking

  • When you select a hob consider buying a more efficient type.
  • Match pan sizes to ring and use pans that are appropriate for your type of hob.
  • Where a long cooking time is needed use a conventional oven. However a microwave oven is more economical for short cooking times, particularly for smaller quantities of food.
  • When cooking with a microwave always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure that there are no “cool spots” left in the food.
  • When you replace your conventional oven consider buying one that is fan assisted. This will use less electricity than a conventional oven.  Modern ovens are also better insulated than older ones, making them more efficient.
  • For toasting use a toaster rather than the grill.

Television Sets

  • When you choose your TV consider buying a model that uses less electricity.
  • Do not leave the TV switched ‘on’ if nobody is watching it.
  • Do not leave the TV in ‘stand-by’ mode for long periods.

Light bulbs

  • Energy saving light bulbs are recommended. Most light fittings in your home will only take low energy light bulbs.

Heating

  • Turn your thermostatic radiator valves to the lowest comfortable setting for the time of year/temperature. Only use the heating when necessary in the rooms that are occupied.
  • Ensure that radiators are bled regularly – air in the radiator reduces heating capability and can cause internal rust.
  • Do not hang curtains in front of radiators as the heat will escape out of the window.
  • Keep doors and windows closed to prevent heat escaping.

The Energy Saving Trust can provide you with advice on saving energy and running your home efficiently, their contact details are:

Energy Saving Trust

21 Dartmouth Street

London

SW1H 9BP

Tel: 0300 123 1234

Web: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

10. Keeping your neighbours happy

Noise

Your property has been carefully constructed in accordance with the Building Regulations. These regulations specify a certain level of sound insulation. Particular kinds of noise, including loud music, will still transfer to other properties, irritating your neighbours.

Regular or repeated noise nuisance will cause complaints and offence (as well as being illegal) and should be avoided.

Please take care when using the communal areas by keeping noise down to a minimum.

Visitors

Please ask your visitors to be considerate of the needs of the residents.

Parking

Parking is allocated as per the site plan in the appendix.

11. What do you think of your new home?

Satisfaction survey

Many people have worked very hard to create your new home. We are continually improving our service in order for our organisation to learn, you will be asked to complete an online or telephone satisfaction survey whilst this is not mandatory, it does help us to improve our services on our new build properties for the future.

It is very important to us, settle, that you give us your opinion. You are in a unique position to tell us how we can improve the quality of our homes.

We look forward to hearing any comments you may have!

12. Waste and Recycling

Bins will be provided within your communal bin store within your apartment block.  However should you need to speak to the Council regarding the bins, phone –  0300 300 8301

Details of what can be put in the bins can be found here:

https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/flats-and-communal-recycling

Collection Calendar:

You can find your bin collection days by entering your postcode and address here:

https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/find-your-bin-collection-day

13. Amenities

Map – Local Area

local area

Map-Wider Area

Map Wider Area

14. Walking and Transport

Walking Routes:

Hitchin Outer Orbital Path

A 12 mile route around Hitchin following public rights of way, countryside paths and some pavements. The route can be broken down into 4 stages ranging from 2 to 4.5 miles, search for Hitchin Outer Orbital Path (HOOP)

See website for more details: https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/walks-and-cycle-routes

Public transport 

Bus routes

The are several bus routes available in Hitchin, please see links below to get more information:

Trains

The nearest train station is Hitchin Train Station.

The Station is approx.. 5 minute Drive form this development.

Train line

15. Specification and Equipment in your home

16. Manuals/User Guides

 

AutoCharge Intelligent EV Charging

Download the full operation manual in PDF format to understand the features, setup, and operation of the AutoCharge Intelligent EV Charging Pedestal. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for optimal use and maintenance.

AutoCharge Intelligent EV Charging Pedestal Operation Manual

Instructions for Electronic Water Heater

To access the full instructions for your electronic water heater, simply click the link below to download the PDF. This guide provides detailed steps for installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance to ensure your water heater operates efficiently.

Instructions for Electronic Water Heater image

Download Instructions for Electronic Water Heater [PDF]