Gas, water and electricity
It is good to know where the following are in your home, particularly in case of an emergency.
- Gas meter
- Consumer unit (fuse box)
- Electric meter
- Mains water stop tap (stop cock, usually located under kitchen sink)
- Service valves - (service valves allow work to be carried out on an appliance without having to turn off water supply to the property
Your New Homes Officer will walk you around the property and point these out to you.
It is important that you record your meter readings as soon as you move in so that you only pay for what you use, and not what the previous tenant used. To do this, look at the large number displayed on your meter, it may also be useful to watch a video example on YouTube.
This is something your New Homes Officer will show you at your sign up, as well as tell you your gas supplier.
To find out your electricity supplier, please visit www.northernpowergrid.com and press ‘Who’s my supplier’.
You are responsible for contacting your suppliers to tell them you are now in your property and give them the readings, and it is important you do this right away.
The water is turned off while the home is empty, the New Homes Officer will show you how to turn it back on, as well as gather the meter readings, if your property has a meter. Once you have these you can submit them to Northumbrian Water online at www.nwl.co.uk/reading.
You cannot change your water provider.
Annual gas safety inspection
By law we must ensure all our homes with a gas supply have a gas safety check each year. Your gas safety inspection is very important. We will contact you to arrange an appointment 10 months after you move in and yearly following that.
During your time as a North Tyneside Council tenant, there will be times when tradespeople, or your Neighbourhood Officer, will need access to your home to carry out essential visits or work. We will let you know well in advance.
At the start of your tenancy, this may be more frequent and so it is a good idea to let work or college know, to see if they can offer you some flexibility during this time.
Appointment times are AM (8am-12pm), or PM (12pm-4pm).
When you do have staff visiting your home, don’t be afraid to ask to see their ID badge to confirm that they are who you are expecting-staff will be happy to wait whilst you check their ID.