Household Problems
Treatment of pests and infestation is the responsibility of the occupant unless:
- it is required within the first 3 months after moving into a property
- it will affect the structure of the property or any work being undertaken on it.
Infestation by rats, lice, wasps or other pests should be reported to Savills as quickly as possible. If substantial numbers of pests (e.g. rats or mice) are found, this should be reported to your local authority. Some local authorities offer pest control services at reasonable prices.
Fungal growth or other signs of suspected rot should be reported without delay to Savills. Bad smells within the house can sometimes be due to rot.
Problems with damp and mould are almost always due to lifestyle; in particular, caused by activities which increase humidity and condensation levels within the property without appropriate ventilation being provided. In these instances, the occupant is responsible for remedial works and lifestyle changes. Advice on how to reduce humidity levels and damp in your home can be found here.
If problems with damp and mould are assessed to result from issues with the fabric of the property (e.g. inadequate ventilation options, poor insulation, rising or penetrating damp), the Diocese will fund any remedial work. Any changes made to the fabric of the property will be most effective if lifestyle changes are made as well.
Asbestos is a substance which is regulated by law because of the health and safety risks that it can pose if it is not handled properly. Although asbestos has been banned for building purposes since 1999, many of our properties were built before this date.
The Diocese is committed to ensuring that all materials containing asbestos in your property are safe. The Diocese has commissioned new surveys to take place in the coming months to ensure that any risk is managed appropriately.
If clergy find materials containing asbestos, or they are discovered during works, Savills will inspect and, if warranted, the material will be removed. There is no risk unless the asbestos is disturbed. If clergy suspect asbestos containing materials have been damaged, please contact Savills.
If a gas leak is suspected, clergy should turn off the gas at the mains, open a window and telephone National Grid emergency line 0800 111 999. Do not turn electric switches on or off. Please report the problem to Savills as soon as possible.
If you have a burst pipe, you should:
- Turn off the water supply: locate the main water shut-off valve and turn it off to stop the flow of water.
- Call Savills during office hours or, if out of hours, a plumber from the emergency contact list: a licensed plumber can assess the situation, identify the leak, and repair it. Please still inform Savills at the earliest opportunity.
- Drain the pipes: Open all faucets and flush all toilets to relieve pressure. Then run hot and cold taps until the water stops flowing.
- Turn off the electrics: If the burst pipe is near electrical appliances, turn off the mains immediately. If the mains switch is wet, don’t touch it.
- Remove water: Use buckets, towels, or a wet-dry vacuum to remove standing water.
- Dry out the area: Use fans and dehumidifiers to circulate air and reduce moisture.
- Call your insurance company if your contents have been damaged (including carpets): most insurers have a 24-hour emergency line. You can report the incident and take photos of the damage.
- Ask about prevention: Ask your plumber about ways to prevent future pipe bursts, such as insulating pipes or installing a water leak detection system.
If the circuit breaker (RCD) trips and fails to re‐set on the power circuits to the household plug sockets the following actions should be taken:
- unplug all domestic items and re‐set the switch
- if it re‐sets, plug in individual items until the circuit fails – this would indicate a faulty appliance
- if it fails to re‐set, please call Savills during office hours or, if out of hours and considered an emergency, contact an electrician or general builder from the emergency contact list . Please still inform Savills at the earliest opportunity.
Fire Safety
The Diocese provides smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in all rooms with gas appliances or active fireplaces. Occupants are asked to alert Savills if these items are faulty or missing.
Occupants are responsible for replacing the batteries and are advised to test the smoke detectors weekly.
Provision of fire extinguishers and fire blankets is the responsibility of the occupants.
Security
Clergy who are concerned about their safety or the safety of other members of the household should consult Savills about basic security measures such as spyholes and/or safety chains. In some cases, this may be referred to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
Clergy are expected to exercise care to minimise risk of burglary (e.g. by locking doors and windows.)
The Diocese will install Security alarms in certain circumstances – please use the requests for works outside of policy if you wish to request one.
Maintenance costs for any alarms are the responsibility of the occupant. Where an existing system fails, Savills will decommission it unless the occupant/parish wish to arrange and pay for the repair.
External security lighting is installed and maintained by the Diocese.
Provision usually consists of one bulkhead fitting to the front and one to the back of the property, but additional lights may be provided at the discretion of the safeguarding team or the Property Working Group.
Replacement bulbs are the responsibility of the occupant.
Break‐ins
Here is a guide covering what to do if you discover a burglary or criminal damage to your home:
1. Call the Police
Phone the police on 101 to report the burglary. If you think the intruder(s) is still inside the property, dial 999 and if you’re worried that they might hear you, use the ‘silent 999 call’ option by pressing 55.
The police will give you a crime number which will come in use later.
2. Entering the Property
If there is any possibility that the intruder is still on the premises, move yourself to a point of safety and never try to confront an intruder.
If you have entered the house, avoid touching anything such as surfaces or entry points, from which evidence may be obtained.
Take photos of the entry point and anything that can be seen from a distance at this time, such as damage.
Create a list of all the things you notice are missing and provide this to the police (if you have not already). If there is something you spot in the future you can update them. Do check sheds or garages for missing bikes or tools.
3. Waiting
While you wait for the police, ensure everyone in your household is accounted for and if you are on your own consider getting a trusted person to come to you. Generally, if a crime is no longer in progress the police might take some time to arrive. If you can wait in a neighbour’s property, this will allow time for you to gather your thoughts.
4. Follow-up
Follow police advice to make the property secure.
During office hours, contact Savills for assistance, both immediate and to review the security of your home longer term. Out of office hours, please use our list of emergency contractors call out if emergency boarding-up is needed or locks have to be replaced.
Call your home insurance company (within 24 hours of finding out about the burglary) and provide the crime reference number the police gave you. Provide the list you have of stolen items and damage. The insurance company might expect proof of purchase or will seek extra information. If a car or car keys have been stolen you will need to contact your motor insurers as well. The Diocese will deal with any claim necessary under the building’s insurance.
5. Continued Support
The police, insurance company, Property Department and your Archdeacon will all continue to offer support. The police may put you in touch with Victim Support.