Tenant Handbook - moving
When you move
Utilities
You are responsible for registering with utility companies.
The details of your electric and gas (if applicable) supplier and meter locations will be provided when you sign your tenancy.
Take gas and electric meter readings on the day your tenancy starts as you will have responsibility for any charges from this date.
Water
Contact Affinity Water to let them know you are the new tenant and tell them when you moved in.
If you have a water meter, take a reading on the day your tenancy starts and give this to Affinity Water.
The water will have been shut off while the property has been empty.
You will need to turn on the stopcock / surestop device once you have moved in to resume the cold water supply.
Details of where to find the stopcock /surestop device will be included on your Utility Information sheet.
If you do not have this information, call the Neighbourhood Team on 01707 357 796 or email neighbourhoods@welhat.gov.uk.
Hot water and heating
If your home has gas, you will first have to register with a gas provider and then arrange with us for your meter to be uncapped for the hot water and heating to work.
To arrange an appointment for your gas meter to be uncapped, please call Housing Maintenance on 0800 111 4484.
At the appointment, the gas engineer will uncap and recommission the heating systems and complete a safety check on the gas installations.
Gas safety check
For your safety, we are legally required to carry out a gas safety check every 12 months on all gas appliances in your property.
We will contact you to offer an appointment.
Cooker points
There will be either a gas or electric cooker point in the kitchen.
We will not supply additional gas or electric cooker points.
You will need to arrange and pay to have your electric or gas cooker connected.
It is against the law for anyone other than a qualified electrician or gas safe engineer to carry out these connections.
A list of gas safe engineers can be found on the Gas Safe Register.
Door keys and fobs
We will give you two sets of keys for your new home and if your property is in a block with a secure communal area, two entry fobs.
If you require additional sets of the entry fobs, we will charge you for them.
For more information contact the Neighbourhood Team on 01707 357 796 or email neighbourhoods@welhat.gov.uk.
Fencing
We are only responsible for providing boundary marking fencing between properties.
This is in the form of closeboarded or lap fence panels.
We will not maintain or repair any fencing that a resident has installed or for boundaries we do not have responsibility for.
Pest control
It is your responsibility to deal with pests, such as rodents or insects, in your home and you will need to organise any pest control treatments.
Our contractor John O’Conner offers a discount to Welwyn Hatfield residents.
If pests are seen in communal areas, please contact the Neighbourhood Team on 01707 357 796 or email neighbourhoods@welhat.gov.uk.