As temperatures begin to drop, there are some simple steps you can take to prepare your home and help prevent problems during the colder months.

Test your heating

Test your heating before the colder weather arrives so that any problems can be identified early. Switch the heating on and turn up the thermostat to check that the system and radiators begin to warm up.

If you have problems with your heating or hot water, please report them as soon as possible. You can find the relevant heating contractor in the Repairs and building safety section of our Contact us page.

Gas safety

As your landlord, we have a legal duty to arrange annual safety checks of the gas appliances and flues for which we are responsible. We are also responsible for maintaining the gas pipework in your home.

You are responsible for maintaining and arranging safety checks for any gas appliances you own, such as a cooker. This work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

During TCH’s annual gas-safety visit, our contractor will visually inspect your appliances and record the details on the Landlord Gas Safety Record. However, this is not a substitute for having your own appliances properly serviced and checked.

If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.

For more information, visit our gas safety page.

Protect your pipes

Cold weather can cause water inside pipes to freeze and expand, which may result in a burst pipe.

To help prevent this:

• keep your home heated at a low, consistent temperature during very cold weather, including overnight
• insulate exposed pipes in colder areas, such as lofts, garages or outside spaces
• make sure you know where your stop tap is and check that you can turn it
• report any leaks or dripping pipes
• check your heating settings before going away from home.

If you are going away for an extended period and plan to turn off and drain your water system, seek advice first.

What should I do if a pipe freezes?

If little or no water comes from a tap, the pipe may be frozen.

Turn off the water supply at the stop tap and open the affected tap. If the pipe is accessible, you can gently thaw it using warm towels or a hot-water bottle, starting near the tap and working back along the pipe.

Never use a naked flame, blowtorch or boiling water to thaw a pipe.

Contact us if you need help or cannot safely reach the affected pipe.

What should I do if a pipe bursts?

Turn off the water immediately by turning your stop tap clockwise. Open your cold taps to help drain the system and limit the damage.

If water is affecting electrical fittings, do not touch them. Move away from the affected area and contact us immediately to report an emergency repair.

It is a good idea to locate and test your stop tap before an emergency happens.

Prepare for power cuts

Severe weather, including storms, snow and ice, can sometimes cause power cuts.

Call 105 free to report a power cut or get information from your electricity network operator.

If anyone in your household relies on electrically powered medical equipment, make an emergency plan with their healthcare provider and energy network operator.

For more information, read the Met Office’s advice on what to do in a power cut.

Secure garden and balcony items

When high winds are forecast, secure or safely store garden and balcony items that could be blown away and cause injury or damage.

This could include garden furniture, plant pots, trampolines, bins and other loose items.

Use portable heaters safely

Keep portable heaters away from curtains, furniture and anything else that could catch fire.

Never:

• cover a portable heater
• use it to dry clothes
• leave it unattended
• plug it into an extension lead.

Always plug portable heaters directly into a wall socket and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Check your contents insurance

TCH insures the structure of your home, but not your personal belongings.

Check that you have suitable home contents insurance and understand what your policy covers, including damage caused by incidents such as storms, flooding or burst pipes.

TCH has teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks, which offers specialist tenants’ contents insurance. Other providers are also available.

Visit our home contents insurance page to find out more.

Put together an emergency kit

Consider keeping some essential items together in an accessible place in case of a power cut, water outage or severe weather.

Your emergency kit could include:

• a battery-powered or wind-up torch—torches are safer than candles
• spare batteries
• a portable phone power bank
• a battery-powered or wind-up radio
• warm clothing and blankets
• bottled water
• food that does not require cooking and a tin opener
• essential medication
• a basic first-aid kit
• supplies for babies, pets or medical equipment, where needed
• important telephone numbers written down on paper.

You do not need to buy everything at once. You can gradually build your emergency kit based on your household’s circumstances.

For a full checklist and more advice, visit prepare.campaign.gov.uk.

Join the Priority Services Register

If you or someone in your household needs additional support because of their age, health, disability or personal circumstances, you may be eligible to join a Priority Services Register.

Support can include:

• priority help during an emergency
• advance notice of planned power cuts
• communications in accessible formats
• help with meter readings
• support if you use medical equipment that requires electricity.

You may also be eligible if you are pregnant, have young children, are recovering from an injury or hospital stay, have recently been bereaved or have difficulty speaking or reading English.

Registration is free. Visit thepsr.co.uk to check eligibility, then contact your energy supplier or network operator to register.