Learn more about the gas, electricity and water supply in your North Abingdon home as well as the heating and ventilation, TV, telephone and broadband.
You'll also find information on safety detectors that have been fitted in your home, and on waste and recycling services.
Click on the topics below to find out more
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.
The electricity supply enters your home through the electricity meter located in the external cupboard on the front wall of the property or in the understairs cupboard. The meter and the cable leading to it belong to the electricity company and should not be tampered with in any way.
The wires leading from the meter go first to the Consumer Control Unit (CCU) which is located in your home entrance hall/understairs cupboard and this identifies all the lighting and power circuits.
The CCU contains the main on/off switch, usually a 30 M/A RCD (Residual Current Device), and a number of Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) which protect individual circuits.
Most CCUs usually have 2 RCDs which will isolate a set of MCBs if an issue arises - leaving the property with power to MCBs on the remaining RCD.
Each MCB is labelled to show which circuit it protects (for example, power, lighting, water heater etc). MCBs have different current ratings suitable for their type of circuit: a cooker circuit will require 32 amps, but a lighting circuit only 6 amps.
If you find you have a loss of power to lights or similar, follow these steps.
- Look for the RCD in the off position and turn off all the MCBs in that bank, reset the RCD and turn each MCB on one at a time.
- The RCD may trip off again if you turn on the faulty circuit. Reset the RCD again and leave the circuit with the issue in the OFF position, you will then have power to all the other circuits except the faulty one.
- Full instructions on this should be on the lid of the CCU.
The wiring from switches and power points will usually run vertically up or down the wall behind the plasterboard. It is important to note that you should avoid an area of at least 200mm on either side of the wiring (switch or power point) when applying fixings. It is advisable to use a cable detecting device before you attach any wall fixings for pictures, shelving, etc.
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.
The stop tap is situated in the cupboard under your sink. The stop tap is used to turn off your water supply. There will also be an external stop-tap at the meter position, usually in the drive or footpath leading to your property.
You will find the connections for a washing machine under the kitchen sink. We recommend that a qualified engineer installs your washing machine.
In the event of a leak, you should initially stop the water coming through by turning the water off at the stop tap. This will help to limit the water damage whilst you are waiting for an engineer to come and fix the leak.
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.
Cleaning water to reach a healthy, fit for drinking standard (called potable water) is an energy intensive process. In addition, with increasing population, greater demand is being placed on our water supplies. Reducing the amount of water we use in our homes saves energy and assists with water conservation.
Your home has been designed to reduce the amount of potable water that is used during the use of the dwelling. To achieve this we have installed low dual flush WC's and low capacity baths. Also, showers and taps have restricted flows to minimise the water consumed during their use, without affecting the function of the fitting.
Bath tap water temperature has been restricted to 48 degrees in accordance with current Building Regulations.
An external tap has been fitted in the rear garden & a water butt has been installed to the shed.
Your new home has been constructed with fuel economy in mind and is very well insulated. The high-spec insulation, combined with low 'thermal-bridging' and low air permeability reduce heat loss through the fabric of your dwelling resulting in reduced energy required to heat your home. To add to the efficiency of the dwelling care should be taken not to block heating outlets, namely radiators, with objects such as furniture or bags.
The central heating system has a boiler, which is thermostatically controlled, supplying radiators and hot water. Your boiler is located in your kitchen.
Find out more about heating, hot water and ventilation in your home.
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
Abbey Fields: The broadband suppliers are BT, Virgin Media & Hyperoptic, please visit their websites for further details:
www.bt.com 
www.virginmedia.com
www.hyperoptic.com
Kings Gate: Open Fibre Networks Ltd (OFNL) have provided the network, please visit their website www.ofnl.co.uk or tel 02921 678550 for further details.
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 www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk
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 website www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk .
As well as collecting general household waste, they also collect the following recyclable waste:
- paper and card
- food cans and drink cans
- glass bottles and jars
- plastic bottles
You will find recycling storage facilities within your kitchen. There are 3 recycling bins in addition to a normal waste bin incorporated into your kitchen units.
All waste that cannot be disposed of through the services offered by the Local Authority should be disposed of at a Household Recycling Centre. Your local centre is at Steventon Road, Drayton, Abingdon OX14 4LA and is open 7 days a week (excluding Christmas and New Year).
Opening times are between:
- 8.00am – 5pm
WRAP is an organisation whose vision is that of a ‘world without waste, where resources are used sustainably’. Their website - www.wrap.org.uk - can provide useful information, tips and guidance on how to reduce the amount of waste you produce.