What to do in severe weather

Severe weather conditions or other emergencies can affect your home. If you’re our tenant, we can help you if this happens. Let us know about the problem by calling us on 03448 920 901.

We have put together a list of advice for common problems caused by severe weather.

Storm damage

If tiles blow off your roof but there's no water penetration:

• Working on roofs in stormy weather is dangerous and it may be 24hrs or more before a roofer can get up onto the roof.

• There should be roofing felt under the tiles and this should prevent water coming into the house.

• If water starts to come through the roof, use a bucket or container to catch any water coming into rooms. Lay a plastic sheet over any possessions that are close to the leak. Call us on 03448 920 901 to update us.

• Is there any immediate danger to life/property from loose slates hanging off the roof? If yes, let us know immediately.

If tiles blow off your roof and water gets into the electrics:

• If water has come in contact with the mains box:
  
  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TOUCH!
  
  DO NOT USE ANY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE HOUSE THAT REQUIRES ELECTRIC MAINS

• Otherwise, if water has come in contact with electrical plugs or sockets turn off your electricity at the meter box immediately.

Fallen Trees

• If a tree falls onto our land, or from our land onto private land, but it doesn’t damage property or pose a risk, we will arrange for a grounds maintenance contractor to sort the problem out in the next few days.

• If a tree falls onto our land, or from our land onto private land, and causes serious damage to property we will arrange for emergency repairs to make the property secure and weatherproof.

• If the property is not habitable we will provide an out-of-hours homeless advice telephone number or district office contact details.

• We will arrange for a grounds maintenance contractor to attend urgently to remove the tree and address the problem.  

Frozen Pipes and Burst Pipes

There is more information about what to do if you have frozen or burst pipes in our:

• Looking after your pipes in cold weather page

If your central heating system stops working

• Check that there is oil in the oil tank, or if it's a gas system, check you have credit on the meter!

• Check that the timer switch is on ‘constant’ or ‘boost’.

• Check the thermostat (usually located in the hall but may sometimes be in the living room) and adjust if necessary - if the house temperature is above the thermostat setting the heating will not come on.

• Check if the red light is displayed at the boiler - press the button on the burner to start the heating.

• If the heating still doesn’t start, call us. If we are receiving a high volume of calls it may take the heating contractor several hours to respond.

If your property is at risk of flooding

• Find out where is the risk of flooding coming from, such as drains in the home, in the street, or river flooding its bank. You can report the flood.

• Block doorways and air bricks if possible as a precaution to stop the water coming into the home.

• If flooding is imminent, switch off gas and electricity. 

• Move valuables/pets to a higher position and place important documents in sealed plastic bags.

• Make up an emergency kit to include: medical needs, mobile phone, radio, torch, first aid kit, food and a drink.