As well as learning more about the services in your North Abingdon home, there's information on who to contact in the event of an emergency, safety and security features, and what to do about insurance.
When you move into your new home, you'll be given various leaflets supplied by the manufacturers and installers of the equipment in your home. Please keep all this information safe so that you can refer to it in the future and familiarise yourself with the user manuals for your appliances and heating system.
Burst water pipes or complete electrical emergencies should be reported by calling the following numbers.
For water emergencies - loss of supply, mains bursts or damage etc
0800 714 614 (24 hr) (Thames Water)
Electricity power cuts or dangerous situations
0800 072 7282 (SSE Power Distribution)
If you smell gas, please call
0800 111999 (National Gas Emergencies)
Make sure you know where in your home the various valves and switches are situated, so that you can turn off the water or electricity in an emergency.
For emergency situations which may arise in your home relating to defects, please call 0300 5000 926. Our contact centre is open 24/7.
When you move into your new home in North Abingdon, you may need to find some items immediately.
Use the table below to help you familiarise yourself with the various items of equipment in your home and where they are located.
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
| Water main stop valve | Under the kitchen sink |
| Water meter | To the front of the plot in the ground box in the highway footpath |
| Consumer control unit | In the hall or under stairs cupboard |
| Electricity meter | On the front or side of the property |
| Gas meter and on/off valve | Ground level or wall mounted to the front of the property |
| Heating programmer and thermostat | Abbey Fields - In the lounge and bedroom 1 Kings Gate - Hallway |
| Central heating boiler | In the kitchen. Watch our video guide to find out how to operate it  . |
Locks have been fitted to your windows and house and flat entrance doors are fitted with multi-point locking.
Flats have a communal door which can be released by using the intercom call facility. Please make sure that this door is kept closed for your security and that of your neighbours.
*You will also be provided with 3 keys for this door/fobs & master key*. Additional copies may be purchased from SNG.
Please make sure you always have your house or flat keys with you when leaving your home. Forced entry and replacement locks will incur an additional charge.
[For flats only] Please do not leave rubbish, bikes, prams or similar items in the communal areas. These areas must be kept clear in the event of an emergency and are not storage areas.
Security
The layout of your home and the external environment has been designed, where possible, with security in mind.
Insurance
Sovereign insures the building in which you live, but we don’t insure your personal contents.
You should arrange a comprehensive insurance policy to cover you for fire, burglary, break-in, storm and flood damage and other risks as soon as you move in.
Sovereign have teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks and Ageas who provide specialist Tenants Contents Insurance policies. This home contents insurance scheme can offer you protection for the contents of your home including cover for items such as furniture, carpets, curtains, clothes, bedding, electrical items, jewellery, pictures and ornaments. Find out more about home contents insurance.
Services and safety detectors
Find out more below about the gas, electricity and water supply in your North Abingdon home, as well as information on TV aerials, telephone terminals and broadband.
You'll also learn about safety detectors that have been fitted in your home, and waste and recycling services.
British Gas is the current electricity supplier to your property. When you move into your new home you will need to set up an account with British Gas or your preferred supplier. Should you wish to discuss your electricity account, meter or supply with British Gas, please contact them on 0333 009 5784.
Residents are responsible for utility payments: from the date of completion for shared owners, or the start of the tenancy agreement for rented properties.
Remember that electricity can kill. Do not attempt to do any work on an electrical circuit or appliance unless you are suitably qualified.
British Gas is the current gas supplier to your property. On moving into your new home you will need to set up an account with British Gas or your preferred supplier. You must contact the utility supplier as soon as possible and provide them you’re your meter readings upon taking occupation. Watch this quick video guide on how to access and take readings from your electric, gas and water meter. Should you wish to discuss your gas account, meter or supply with British Gas, please contact them on 0333 009 5784.
In emergencies, the gas can be turned off by locating the lever which is situated beside your meter.
Any gas appliances should be installed by a Gas Safe registered fitter. A gas cooker will require a bayonet fitting for the pipe which only a registered fitter can supply. Check that your Gas Safe engineer has a valid Gas Safe card with them.
Thames Water is the current water supplier to your property. Should you wish to contact Thames Water regarding your water account, their number is: 0845 9200 888.
Your property is provided with a water meter. Your water meter can be found in a ground box in the highway footpath, normally at the front of your property. Watch this quick video guide to find out how to access and take readings from your electric, gas and water meter.
Bath tap water temperature has been restricted to 48 degrees in accordance with current Building Regulations.
Telephone
Your home is provided with a standard British Telecom terminal in the hall or within the under stairs cupboard. This is wired ready for you to apply to BT, or any other service provider you choose, for connection.
Please note: BT will not connect the telephone extensions in your home unless you place an order with BT to do so. You will be charged separately for connecting the extension sockets.
Telephone service supply, handset provision and connection are your own responsibility as the householder.
TV Aerial
Your home is wired for terrestrial television. A television aerial can be found in your living room.
For new build houses, in order to use the television sockets, you will need to use a qualified professional to install an aerial. We have provided the co-axial cabling into the loft space ready for your aerial to be installed.
Broadband
Please consult your home user guide or watch this useful video guide which shows how to connect broadband or a TV aerial.
Smoke and heat detectors
Your home has been fitted with smoke and heat detectors in accordance with the requirements of the Building Regulations. They are there for your safety and should not be removed.
Smoke detectors are sensitive to dust and you should periodically remove any dust with the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner. Test the operation of the smoke detector once every month by pressing the test button hard. You may need to change the battery periodically.
Carbon monoxide detector
Your home is fitted with a mains operated Carbon Monoxide detector fixed in the kitchen. Detectors should be regularly tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Shared ownership properties: The upkeep of this detector is your responsibility, not Sovereign’s.
Rented properties: Sovereign will test and repair the CO detectors within rented properties. Find out more about annual safety gas checks.
Your local authority provides a waste collection service. You are responsible for putting your bin in the designated space on refuse collection day.
If your property is a house, you will need to order your bins from the Local Authority, Vale of White Horse. Tel – 01235 422422 or visit their website .
For Blocks/Flats communal bins will be supplied by the Local Authority.
(Only waste within the bins will be collected by local authority refuse collections. All other items left on the floor will be classed as Fly Tipping and the removal of this may impact on your service charge).
At the time of writing your collection day is Friday. Further details can be found on the Vale of White Horse website.