A guide to some of your main responsibilities when living in Service Families Accommodation
| Q |
What can I do to prevent damage to my heating and plumbing system during cold weather? |
| A |
You can prepare for cold weather by:
- locating the position of the water main stopcock in your SFA and checking that it operates in case you need it.
- reporting any taps and cisterns that require attention and also any damage to insulation on outside pipe work.
During severe weather you are responsible for ensuring the temperature in your SFA does not fall below 10 degrees. Keep doors of rooms without heating open to allow heat to circulate. Also, slightly open your loft hatch to allow some warm air to circulate around the loft pipes.
|
| Q |
To whom do I report faulty taps and cisterns and any damage to pipe insulation? |
| A |
If you live in England and Wales, phone MODern Housing Solutions’ helpdesk on 0800 707 6000. If you live in Scotland, phone Amec Turner’s helpdesk on 0800 328 6337. Note: You can call these numbers anytime day or night. Do not wait for normal working hours to report a fault.
|
| Q |
What about outdoor pipes? |
| A |
You need to take special care with pipes leading outside the house. For outside taps, you should shut off any isolating stopcock before the start of cold weather and leave taps open. If you are unsure about what to do, contact the helpdesk of MODern Housing Solutions for SFA in England and Wales or Amec Turner for SFA in Scotland. They will be able to advise you.
|
| Q |
What precautions should I take if I am going away in cold or severe weather? |
| A |
You are responsible for ensuring that adequate frost damage precautions are taken.
You should therefore:
- Leave central heating on permanently with the room thermostat set to a minimum of 10 degrees and turn all the radiator valves on to full, or, if your property has thermostatically controlled radiator valves (TRVs) fitted, set them to the frost setting, usually marked by an asterisk, and leave the heating on.
- Leave all internal doors open and slightly open your loft hatch.
Where possible, leave your keys with a trusted neighbour and ask them to check the house regularly.
|
| Q |
Will it be expensive to leave my heating on constantly? |
| A |
No. Heating left on like this consumes little fuel at a small cost. It really is far better to spend a small amount to prevent problems, than incurring the cost of paying the excess of any insurance claim, the loss of irreplaceable possessions and the inconvenience of a major clear up operation.
|
| Q |
What can I do to minimise the risk of fire in my home? |
| A |
Never leave cooking, burning cigarettes or lit candles unattended. These are the main causes of fires in the UK. Always place candles, matches and lighters out of reach of children and any pets. Also try to keep children and pets out of the kitchen during cooking. Ensure your kitchen is clutter-free during cooking and keep candles away from flammable materials including curtains, flower arrangements and even television sets. Also, ensure unnecessary electrical appliances are switched off at night and when the house is empty.
|
| Q |
What should I do if something catches fire in the kitchen? |
| A |
If a pan of food catches fire, switch off the burner and smother the fire by sliding a lid or damp, wrung cloth firmly in place until the pan has cooled.
DO NOT attempt to remove it from the room.
NEVER throw water on a fat or oil fire!
In case of an oven fire, close the door and turn off the heat.
Call the Fire Brigade.
|
| Q |
What should I do if I smell gas? |
| A |
If you smell gas, or suspect you have a gas leak, you should extinguish all naked flames and cigarettes. Ventilate the property by opening windows and doors. Do not operate any electrical equipment (including telephone or mobiles) or light switches – but if anything is already switched on, leave it on. Evacuate the property and once outside call the National Grid Gas emergency number 0800 111 999 immediately. |
| Q |
Can I use my loft for storage? |
| A |
For Health and Safety reasons, you may only use your loft for storage where Defence Estates has given you permission to do so and where it has been specially adapted for such use. This is if it has been properly boarded to provide a suitable load bearing floor and is provided with a ladder and lighting.
You should not overfill your loft and should allow adequate entry access in case of emergencies.
|
| Q |
I have a condensation problem in my SFA. What can I do to alleviate this? |
| A |
Double-glazing and central heating are improvements that result in warm and draft-free homes. Unfortunately, these now ideal living conditions have removed some of the natural ventilation which took place in the past without you actually realising it. This change in the dynamics of your home, combined with your individual lifestyles, can on occasion, create the perfect combination for condensation to occur.
To ensure your home remains condensation free it is important that you understand how condensation occurs. Condensation occurs when there is an imbalance between the heating, ventilation and moisture content within a home and the ability of the air within the home to retain the volume of moisture therein. (Warm air retains more moisture than cold air).
When this imbalance occurs, the air will inevitably want to deposit the moisture somewhere, usually on a cold surface, normally windows and unheated areas.
There are three very distinct ways of dealing with the cause of condensation, which on their own are totally impractical:
- Option 1. You can increase the ventilation to the house, which in turn will bring down the temperature and release much of the moisture; but in winter this is totally impractical.
- Option 2. You can turn the heating up to a level which prevents condensation forming; again totally impractical from a comfort and cost perspective.
- Option 3. You can stop introducing moisture into your home; not an option in any home.
The solution is to find the right balance of ventilation, heat retention and managing moisture. This is done by:
- Taking an objective look at how much moisture your lifestyle puts into the atmosphere i.e. cooking, washing, clothes drying, even sweating (if you exercise at home), and taking practical steps to isolate and balance the ventilation and heating in that specific area to prevent condensation forming.
- Opening the windows in your kitchen or bathroom when cooking or bathing or, where fitted, switching on the extractor fans.
- Avoiding drying damp clothes on radiators – use airers instead.
- Keeping the ventilation grills on double-glazed windows open.
- Only using tumble dryers that are vented to the outside by means of a vent kit or hose.
|
| Q |
What if damage occurs in SFA? |
| A |
Where damage occurs to the structure and fabric of the property through no fault of the occupant, Defence Estates will pay for the repairs.
If you have reported a fault, and as a result of no action being taken damage occurs to your personal belongings when you had taken all reasonable precautions to protect them, you may pursue a claim for loss or damage to your personal possessions through the MOD Claims Branch.
If a situation has occurred through no fault of Defence Estates, you will need to claim on your own home contents insurance. It is strongly advised that occupants take out such a policy. Where you are found to be negligent, you may be held responsible for costs of damage incurred to the SFA.
If in doubt on any of these issues, please raise your concerns with your local Housing Information Centre, who will be happy to advise you. |
