Handy Tips & Advice 

Here are a few handy tips and advice on looking after your home:  

Identification of callers

Before allowing someone into your home, you should always check their identity.  All ASRA staff and contractors carry identification cards and contractors will have a written repair order.

Shared gardens and shared areas

Where houses are converted into two or more flats, tenants are responsible for cleaning the hallways, staircases and landings unless this is covered by service charge.

Please arrange and agree responsibilities with your neighbours.

We also ask that you make arrangements for the upkeep of communal gardens. Please ensure that it is kept in a reasonable and tidy condition.

Parking

Please park carefully so that obstructions are not caused to other drivers, pedestrians and the emergency services, and so that damage is not caused to grassed areas and pathways.

There are some areas of shared parking spaces which are there for any tenant or visitor. Specific parking spaces will be arranged where possible for disabled people.

Some of our schemes have special parking arrangements such as wheel clamping schemes. Your housing officer will inform you of any special arrangements.

Rubbish

If you have a refuse bin please prevent it from smelling by regularly cleaning it.

Rubbish should not be allowed to overflow as this encourages mice and rats.  Rubbish should only be put out on the day of collection.

If you have a rubbish chute, please consider your neighbours and do not use it between 11pm and 7am.

Holidays

You should pay rent before you go on holiday to cover the period when you are away.

It is advisable to turn the water off at the mains and unplug electrical appliances which are not in use.

It may be a good idea to ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you are away.

Alterations and improvements

You may carry out some improvements or alterations to your home but you must obtain our written permission before work can go ahead.

Aerials and satellite dishes

Please obtain our permission before installing an aerial or satellite dish and qualified contractors who are covered by insurance must undertake the work.

Most blocks of flats have a communal TV aerial and the maintenance cost is covered by your service charge.

Washing machines

You are responsible for connecting your washing machine direct to water and drainage services.

The maker’s instructions for fitting the machine must be followed.

Saving water

• Don’t leave taps running
• Consider having a shower instead of a bath
• Don’t use hose pipes

Condensation

If you have:

• Mould growing on walls or furniture
• Steamed up windows
• Rotting window frames

then you probably have a problem with condensation.

The best way to tackle this is to:

• Close kitchen and bathroom doors to prevent steam going into colder rooms
• Open kitchen and bathroom windows when cooking and after a bath
• Have your windows open for about 30 minutes each day to let air circulate
• Avoid drying clothes inside
• Wipe down surfaces where moisture settles to prevent mould growth

If mould forms:

• Wipe the mould off immediately with water
• Do not use washing up liquid
• Apply a bleach solution to the wall or use a recommended product

Drains and sinks

Never pour fat, rice or tea leaves down your sink, they will block the drains.

If the sink is blocked:

• Pour boiling water down the plug hole
• Use a plunger or products available from your hardware store or supermarket
• Do not use soda or other highly corrosive acids as they destroy plastic fittings
• If more than one fitting (bath, basin or sink) is blocked, the blockage may be in the main drain. You will need to contact us to get it unblocked

Toilets

Do not put nappies, sanitary towels or other large objects down the toilet.

Gutters

Try and keep gutters clear of leaves and rubbish, particularly in the autumn. If you don’t, rain water will back up and overflow. This could lead to problems with damp.

If you have tried to clear the gutter and there is still a problem, you should speak to Property Services.

Home safety

Every year more people are killed or injured by accidents in the home than by any other type of accident.

A few simple precautions may prevent this happening to you:

• Keep stairs well lit
• Replace light bulbs at once when necessary
• Make sure floor surfaces are in good condition and not slippery
• Make sure steps and ladders are properly secured before climbing up them
• Never overstretch when you are up a ladder or on steps.

Smoke alarms

We strongly recommend that you fit smoke alarms in your home.  You can buy them from supermarkets, DIY stores and hardware shops.

 

Carbon monoxide

 Around 40 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning due to faulty gas appliances that have not been checked and regularly serviced.

 Carbon monoxide has no colour, taste or smell and is extremely poisonous. It is formed whenever natural gas is burned with an incorrect air supply. When carbon monoxide is inhaled it prevents the human body from absorbing oxygen resulting in oxygen starvation. This can lead to death. 

A gas appliance can malfunction and produce carbon monoxide if:

• Incorrect installation and commissioning of the appliance.
• Lack of ventilation around the appliance

It is therefore important that you co-operate with our annual gas safety checks. Please make sure you’re around to let contractors in when they’re due.