Get your home winter ready

As we enter winter months, there’s some proactive steps you can take to prepare for colder weather and make winter all the more enjoyable.

Test your heating before you need to

Testing your heating is working before you actually need to heat the house will highlight any potential issues ahead of time. Plumbers and gas engineers are often very busy when the temperature first drops and heating systems that have been switched off can often stop working over the summer.

Testing out the heating before it gets too cold can highlight any issues in time.

Locate your stopcock

It’s always useful to know where your stopcock is in case of an emergency and stop the water supply fast.

Preparing for power cuts

It’s always useful to have torches, candles or blankets stored somewhere convenient in the event of a power cut.

Regularly open windows and doors

Even in colder months, it is especially important to maintain airflow in your home for at least part of the day.

Ensuring that windows are open for even 20 minutes a day will prevent condensation and mould.

Preventing drafts

To keep your home warm and cosy it is worth checking for drafts. This will also go a long way towards keeping heating bills down.

Making your garden winter ready

Storms and high winds are more common in winter months. This is why its important to secure items that might be blown away in stormy weather.

With high winds usually prevalent around this time of year, it’s always important to either put away or secure down anything that could be blown away and damage your home. Sweep up any leaves and ensure your garden is clear and tidy.

Fire and smoke can spread very quickly. Both can kill. You, your family and visitors are responsible for preventing the outbreak of fire.

Here’s our top 5 best safety tips this winter – and you can read more about Fire Safety in our safety in your home webpage.

Fire Safety: Top 5 Tips

• All mobile devices, tablets, vapes, e-cigs, e-scooters and e-bikes have lithium batteries which can be especially dangerous – make sure you read the safety instructions carefully and dispose of any items safely
• Keep anything flammable away from sources of heat – candles and curtains are a notoriously dangerous mixture, but also make sure not to dry clothes on electric heaters
• Don’t overload plug sockets – it seems easy to put extra plugs into an extension lead, but make sure you’re not overpowering the socket or using anything that is damaged
• Be safe when cooking – if you’re rushing to put together something to eat, a carelessly draped tea towel could catch fire from the hob. Be organised and tidy when cooking and make sure you turn everything off afterwards
• Know your escape routes and evacuation plan – if there’s a fire in your home, what’s the safest and quickest way out? If you live in a flat, what’s the evacuation procedure? Familiarise yourself with these so that in the event of an emergency, you know what to do and don’t panic.

Communal areas

You must keep communal areas such as landings, foyers, stairwells and walkways free of obstacles. They are your way out in the event of a fire. This is because anything left in these areas could: 

• Slow people down from being able to escape, especially if they are disabled, have poor eyesight or there is smoke which will cause visibility to be reduced. This could cost lives
• Catch fire and emit smoke, which could be toxic 
• Stop firefighters from being able to move around safely to deal with emergency or rescue 

We have a legal duty to ensure that escape routes are safe. As a tenant, you also share this responsibility in your Tenancy Agreement. To ensure this we have a clear corridors policy, which states that must not leave anything outside of your flat. We understand that you may not agree with this, but we have to remove any potential obstacles such as furniture, plants and pictures from communal areas. If you have any questions please contact your Housing Officer.  

Home safety visits

Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service offer home safety visits which will provide you with free advice about staying safe in your home. To book a free home safety visit call 0800 7311 822.

Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service are offering an online home fire safety check through Safelincs which has been developed through a partnership between the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), Fire Kills and Safelincs. This also allows referrals to be made directly to Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.

To determine if you are eligible for a free home fire safety check please visit Safelincs to request one. If you meet the criteria for a free home fire safety check, you will be contacted to arrange a convenient date and time.

More information can be found here.

Simple steps at home can prevent damp and mould from becoming an issue. As we’ve already heard, opening windows for just 20 minutes each day can go a long way to preventing issues with damp. 

The moisture in the air comes into contact with a cold surface like a wall or window and turns into droplets of water. If it’s ignored it can cause a problem as it can cause mould to grow.

The mould can be treated by wiping down windows and walls with an anti-mould spray from your local supermarket.

We have a series of useful guides to help available on our website.

You can avoid condensation in your home with the following tips:

• Vent your tumble dryer to the outside so the warm air isn’t being released into your home
• Keep lids on your pans while you cook so that the steam can’t escape
• Don’t dry clothes on a radiator, and dry your washing outside where you can
• Use an extractor fan in your kitchen while cooking and in the bathroom while washing
• If you run a bath, put the cold in first which will reduce the amount of steam given off
• Air out your home for at least 20 minutes each day to let fresh air circulate and keep trickle vents on your windows open
• Air out cupboards and wardrobes regularly and always leave a gap behind furniture and a wall
• You can buy a dehumidifier which will take a lot of the moisture out of the air
• Regularly wipe down condensation on windows.

Staying connected with people around you

As the night’s draw in it can be easy to shut the curtains in a warm home and stay indoors. However, it is important to stay connected with other people as this can boost your wellbeing.

Good social relationships with those around you are an essential component to mental wellbeing, so try to stay in regular contact with family, friends or neighbours over the winter months.

Click here to learn more.

Wellbeing hubs in Plymouth

Throughout the city, regular Wellbeing Hubs offer friendly and welcoming spaces for socialising or obtaining advice on mental health, household finances or general information.

Click here to find your nearest Wellbeing Hub.

Learn new skills

Learning a new skill can be a great way to deter winter blues by keeping you focused on something that might interest you.

There are lots of craft groups open to the public throughout Plymouth, even some organised by PCH.

Getting stuck-in to a new hobby can give a sense of purpose and entertainment.

Click here to learn more or keep an eye on PCH’s social media channels for regular news about different clubs.

NHS Health check

If you’re between 40 and 74 and don’t have pre-existing conditions you should be invited to an NHS Health Check every 5 years. The health checks can also be made at local pharmacies.

You can click here for more information on eligibility.

I you think you are eligible but have not been invited, please contact your local GP.

Alcohol

It’s a good idea to be conscious of how much you are drinking, alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health. It’s also important to be vigilant to issues surrounding addiction.

If you have concerns around alcohol consumption, please click here.

Flu vaccine

Vaccinating against the impact of flu can be an effective way to prevent severe illness and as the months become colder, cases of flu can become more prevalent.

Vaccination can be an effective way to prevent severe illness and even hospitalisation.

You can find out more about the flu jab here.

Lots of people have been struggling with increasing costs over the last couple of years, so If you’re struggling to find the money to cover your rent this winter, the most important thing is to let us know.

We have dedicated staff who are waiting to help you and can assist with information and support about claiming benefits, recommend local charities and offer helpful advice on financial matters. Please call the Incomes Team on 0800 028 0350.

There are also many companies providing hardship grants this winter to support with the cost of utilities:

Government support

• Cost of Living Support

Local support

• Crisis support via Plymouth City Council
• Plymouth Citizens Advice
• Plymouth Energy Community
• Salvation Army Debt Advice Service (based in Whitleigh)

Occupational charities

There are several occupational charities that support people in financial hardship with a particular work history.

• SSAFA for Veterans
• Grocery Aid
• Retail Trust for shop workers
• Hospitality Action
• RCN Foundation for Nurses

Apply for a grant or support from your energy supplier

Many energy suppliers have trust funds available for those in need.

• British Gas Energy Trust
• EDF Energy Trust
• ScottishPower Hardship Fund
• EON Fund
• Shell Energy Trust Fund
• OVO Energy
• Octopus Energy Octo Assist Fund

Pension credit

If you’ve reached State Pension age, you might be able to apply for Pension Credit. Pension Credit is a weekly benefit to boost your income. It’s based on how much money you have coming in. Check if you can get Pension Credit on Citizens Advice Plymouth website.

Citizens Advice Plymouth is hosting outreach sessions across Plymouth.

Find out more about the drop-in sessions within the Financial Help and Advice webpage on the Plymouth City Council website.

Winter fuel payments

The Winter Fuel Payment is a payment you can get once a year to help you pay for heating during the winter.

The rules for Winter Fuel Payments have recently changed. From winter 2024 you’ll now only get the payment if you or your partner get certain benefits, like Pension Credit.

It’s worth applying for Pension Credit even if you don’t think you’ll get much. If you get Pension Credit Pension Credit you’ll be able to get other money and help like the Winter Fuel Payment.

You’ll receive a Winter Fuel Payment if you successfully apply for Pension Credit by 21 December - as long as your Pension Credit is backdated to any date between 16 and 22 September. You won’t get the Winter Fuel Payment until your Pension Credit claim is successful.

ReConnect Project

Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) is working with PEC to offer advice and practical support to residents who may be worried about energy bills or heating their home.

As part of the project, Energy Advisors are available to help our residents:

Remain on supply or get reconnected

Address energy debt and negotiate repayment plans with suppliers

Access any financial support you may be eligible for

The project was launched on Thursday 17 October 2024 and we were joined by PCH and Livewest staff available to advise on support available, Citizen’s Advice Plymouth offering information and advice, One You Plymouth offering information on health and wellbeing services and Food is Fun providing a slow cooker demo, tasty recipes and delicious free samples.

To find out more or to be referred to the project, please contact the Project Team:

Email: healthandhousing@pch.co.uk

Call: 01752 237 990 / 0808 230 6500

There have been an increasing number of cases of e-bikes and e-scooters catching fire. While this should not cause you alarm if you own one, its important to be vigilant.

The below steps could prevent a fire:

• Always read the safety advice in the manual
• If you need to replace a battery or charger, always use a genuine, correctly branded product
• Charge devices on a flat, solid surface – not a bed or sofa
• Do not leave anything charging unattended or overnight
• If you haven’t used an item in a while, take extra care when charging it
• Don’t leave items continuously on charge when they are fully charged
• Do not cover chargers or charging devices
• Protect batteries against damage and do not use a damaged battery
• Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures
• Never put batteries in your general waste or recycling bin.