a) Introduction

We have six, 10-storey, high-rise blocks, three in Penhill and three in Park North. This section of the handbook contains information for people who live in these blocks. Living in high-rises is different to living in a house or a low-rise flat so some special rules apply.

We will give you two keys or fobs for the main door and two for your flat, balcony and shed when you sign for your property. You must pay for any extra keys that we agree to let you have and return the keys when you end your tenancy. If you fail to return the keys or fobs, we will charge you for their replacement. Key fobs have to be programmed by the caretaker at the start of tenancy.

Each high-rise block is a small community of 41 flats, so you have to be aware of other people who live nearby.

Noise can travel easily between floors in blocks of flats so please don’t play music loudly and avoid causing other nuisance such as slamming doors. Different tenants will have different lifestyles, for example, some people work shift patterns, others are at home during the day, some are younger that others. Where this is the case, please try and respect it as we cannot stop certain noises such as washing machines, footsteps and children playing as these are all ‘normal’ noise.

b) Role of the caretaker

The main job of the caretaker is to provide a friendly and helpful link between us and our residents. His or her main duty is to keep the shared areas of your block clean. The caretakers do not have spare keys to flats or master keys for the block. So, if you do get locked out or lose your keys, it is your responsibility to replace the keys and lock.

c) Shared areas

This includes all stairways, landings, drying areas, lifts, bin and shed areas. The caretaker cleans these areas, but each resident is responsible for helping to keep them clean and tidy.

d) Sheds

Each tenant has a shed which you can use for storage.

You must not store flammable items in the sheds.

e) Drying areas

Each floor has it’s own drying area. You must not store any items in the drying room.

f) Collecting rubbish

We empty bins every week. Your caretaker will tell you which day the collection is. You should put rubbish in black bags and place them in the large bins in the bin room on the ground floor.

You can help your caretaker by:

• securely wrapping sharp items before putting them in the black bags; and
• prevent liquids leaking from the bags by making

sure lids are on tight or containers are empty.

You should not put black bags on landings, in stairways or in passageways.

g) Bulky items

For a fee, Swindon Services will take away unwanted items such as armchairs, settees, cookers, washing machines and fridges or freezers. Contact Swindon Services on 01793 445501 to arrange payment, and an appointment for collecting the items.

Once you have arranged for the items to be removed, store them in the bin area ready for collection. There is no charge if you take your bulky items to the Waterside Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Note: If you do not clear your bulky items, or make an appointment through Swindon Services for them to be removed, we will charge you more for removing the goods.

h) Notice boards

The notice boards are on the ground floor, and are for announcements, health and safety notices and other general information.

i) Pets

You can only keep a small caged bird in your flat. You are not allowed an other pets or animals under any circumstances.

j) Bikes

Please store bikes in your ground-floor shed. If you take them to your flat, be careful not to scuff or mark the walls and lifts.

k) Television reception

The television satellite and aerial system in the high-rise blocks will give you access to digital satellite (Sky) TV, digital terrestrial TV, analogue terrestrial TV (BBC 1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) and Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) radio through the three-way outlet in your home.

If you do not have a digital box, your television should be plugged into the outlet socket marked ‘TV’ and will allow you to view the five free channels.

If you have a Freeview box (which are now available in most electrical retail outlets), this should be plugged into the outlet marked ‘TV’. This will give you access to up to 30 channels, plus interactivity (interactive remote control buttons) and 12 radio networks.

In addition you can subscribe to Sky if you enter into a contract with them.

Tenants with FM radios, and those tenants who buy DAB radios, should plug their units into the outlet marked ‘Radio’.

l) Fire

If a fire breaks out in your flat:

• leave the room straight away, along with anyone else, and close the door;
• don’t stay behind to put the fire out;
• tell everyone else in your flat about the fire and get them to leave, and close the front door; and
• call the fire brigade by dialling 999.
  If you have to leave the building, use the stairs, not the lift.

Each flat has been designed to be fire resistant, so if there is a fire in another part of the block, you should:

• stay in your flat and close all windows and doors;
• wait for instructions from the fire brigade; and
• if heat or smoke is affecting your flat, leave the flat closing all windows and doors behind you.

If the fire is in the flat next to yours, or directly below, you should do the following.

• Tell everyone else in your flat about the fire and get them to leave, and close the front door.
• If you have to leave the building, use the stairs, not the lift.

m) Closed-circuit television

There is closed-circuit television system inside and outside the block to monitor security and safety. The system is monitored by staff in the control room at Waterside, and they are able to identify people acting antisocially. Data-protection principles apply to the pictures recorded by the system, and for more information contact 01793 464703.

n) Door-entry system

The security of the building is the responsibility of each resident as well as the caretaker. Unwelcome visitors often get into the block by following another resident entering the block. To avoid this, please follow these simple rules.

• Make sure the main door closes behind you, especially in high winds.
• If you don’t know the person, ask them to use the entry phone to call the flat they are visiting rather than just allowing them into the block.
• Report any unwelcome visitors to the caretaker.
• If you receive a call on the entry phone from someone you do not know, do not let them in.

o) Lifts

• Do not use the lifts if there is a fire.
• If a lift breaks down and you are in it, follow the emergency instructions.
• All lift breakdowns should be reported to the caretaker during working hours and to the control room on 01793 466451 outside normal working hours.
• In the interests of hygiene and the comfort of other users, don’t smoke in the lifts.
• Don’t lean bikes against the walls of the lift as this leaves marks.

p) Balconies

The balconies are there for your enjoyment. We have fitted nets around the balconies to deter pigeons because they can spread disease and cause a nuisance by fouling areas on and around the blocks. Please do not tamper with the nets as they are there for your health and safety.

q)

Throwing objects

We will take legal action against any tenant who allows objects to be thrown from their flats because of the danger and injury this can cause.

r) Slip hazards

If there are any spillages or slip hazards, contact the caretaker during normal hours. Outside working hours, contact the control room on 01793 466451. If you have spilt something in a corridor or stairway, please help the caretaker and clear it up.

s) Flammable gas or liquids

You must not use any form of heating that burns propane, paraffin or any other flammable gas or liquid, or store these substances in your flat.