Moving In & Enjoying My New Linden Home

Statements contained within this manual are provided for general guidance only and are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of printing.

Linden Homes can take no responsibility for inaccuracies in this manual, nor for any actions taken as a result of those inaccuracies. Nothing in this manual forms part of an offer or contract and should not be construed as any representation by Linden Homes or its agents.

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Linden Homes Page 3

Welcome

Firstly, can we say a huge thank you –

we’re delighted you have chosen a Linden

property as your new home.

Our most important task is making sure

that your big move goes as smoothly as

possible – we want you to be as happy

with our service as you are with your new

home.

Now you’ve paid your reservation fee, you

might well be wondering what happens

next. We have put together this manual

so you’re aware of everything that is going

to happen over the next few weeks, and

to make sure there are no surprises. But if

you find we haven’t covered something, or

you’re still not quite sure, please feel free

to pick up the phone, send us an email or

come in for a chat.

In your manual, there is lots of useful

information on:

What happens once you have reserved

What we will do and what we will need

you to do to keep the process running

smoothly

The warranties that cover your home’s

fixtures

How to look after your home’s fittings

and features

Your home’s impact on the environment

If you would prefer to read your manual

on screen or while you’re out and about,

it’s stored electronically on the USB

drive we have given to you. This should

automatically launch an electronic version

of your manual when you plug it into your

computer, but depending on the operating

system you’re using, you might need to

click a dialog box first, or open it manually.

After you have legally completed, you can

also view your manual online by logging in

with your unique password at

www.mynewlindenhome.co.uk. What’s

more, clicking on an interactive link within

the text will take you to straight to the

website. You will be given your home’s

login details on a card, which you can keep

in the pocket inside the front cover of your

manual, and there is also an instruction

sheet on the next page in case you need it.

On completion, you will be given a box

file, which you can use to keep all the

documents relating to your home in one

place. You will also receive the final ‘Your

Home’s Details’ section of this manual,

which belongs behind the last tab.

If you need your manual in another format,

like Braille or on an audio CD, please let

us know.

Finally, we hope you will be as happy as we

are that you’ve chosen a Linden home, and

that you find your manual helpful along

the way.

To be kind to the environment, your

manual is printed on 100% recycled paper.

The binder is also made from recycled

board, with a 100% recycled paper lining

and a recycled leather outer.

Page 4 Linden Homes

How to Use HomeFiles

You might like to add the My New Linden

Home website to your favourites so you

can find it easily.

As soon as you can, please click on My

Account to register your email address, so

we can send you your details if you forget

them. You can also change your password,

if you would like to.

Your HomeFiles are PDFs - you can open

them by clicking on the links to each one.

They will open in a new window.

Below the main files are other documents

relating to your home. These will also

open in a new window when you click on

them.

When you click a file to download, you

might get a popup message underneath

the browser bar telling you:

“To help protect your security, Internet

Explorer blocked this site from

downloading files to your computer. Click

here for options.” Select “Download File”

and then click on the document link again

- you will get the option to Open or Save

the PDF.

Your Development

Linden Homes Page 5

If you click Open, the PDF will open in a

new window. There are several ways that

you can navigate through the document:

A. By clicking the Forward/Back arrows

B. Typing in a keyword in the Search box

If you’d like to zoom in to read text more

easily, you can either:

1. Use the plus button

2. Click on the drop down arrow next to it

to select your preferred scale

3. Use the fill window buttons

Throughout your documents you’ll find

web addresses that link to the internet.

If you click on a web link from within a

PDF, this will navigate away from your

HomeFiles screen. To return, use the

browser back arrow. If you do navigate

away from your HomeFiles and then close

the web page, you will need to log in again

when you come back.

Linden Homes Page 7

About Linden Homes

Linden Homes encompasses Galliford Try’s

previous housebuilding companies: Midas

Homes, Stamford Homes, Rosemullion

Homes and Gerald Wood Homes. Now

operating as one national brand from

Cornwall to Northumberland means the

whole business can benefit from shared

skills, expertise and scale. But we’ve

retained the flexibility, creativity and

passion at the local level that has been the

foundation of our success. The unification

of our businesses is part of our ongoing

strategy of growth.

Within the next few years this ambitious

expansion plan will see us grow to build

over 3,500 homes a year, ranking us as

one of the UK’s largest housebuilders.

Working together we’re united in our

desire to give our customers an exceptional

experience based on the passion and

commitment of our people.

We create homes that appeal not only

to our purchasers, but which also serve

and complement the local community

and environment, whether they are in the

South West, the North East or anywhere

in between. The distinctive and diverse

range of homes we offer allows us to make

sure the existing surroundings of all our

developments are always enhanced.

We take great care to lessen the impact

our homes have on the environment,

both during the build and once they

are occupied, by adhering to strict

environmental policies. As well as making

them generally as energy efficient as

possible, we’re experimenting with

renewable energy sources to reduce our

reliance on fossil fuels, and installing water

saving features in all our homes.

Of course, the most important part of

building our homes is the people that

buy them, which is why we measure

our success through our customers’

satisfaction and not the number of homes

we build. We believe in treating our

customers the way we would like to be

treated ourselves. It’s not just what we say,

but what we actually do that proves our

commitment.

In fact, we’re so committed to offering a

first class service (as described fully in our

Customer Charter) that 97% of Linden

homeowners would recommend us to their

friends. Of all our awards and achievements,

this is the one we’re most proud of.

The Team

From the point when you enquire about

one of our homes right through to

handover, you will be under the wing of

one of our Sales Executives, who will be

on hand whenever you need any help or

advice about buying your home. They will

take you through the whole process, show

you what to do and when, and support you

until you’re ready to move in.

Once you’re all moved in, our Customer

Service department will be there if you need

them for help or to report a problem. Their

contact details can be found on page 23.

Foundations for Success

Galliford Try is the name behind Linden

Homes, and is one of the UK’s leading

construction and housebuilding

companies, whose name is synonymous

with many prestigious projects, including

the roof of Wimbledon’s Centre Court, the

2012 Olympic Village and the new Forth

Road Bridge. Our impressive collection of

specialist skills and experience spanning

multiple sectors means we can confidently

take on projects that other housebuilders

could not consider - from city centre

regeneration, to sensitive restoration

projects.

If you would like to find out any more

information about us, you can visit our

website at www.lindenhomes.co.uk

Linden Homes Page 9

STicking To our ScHeduLe

We know you will want to be kept

informed about how the building of your

home is going, which is why your Sales

Executive will be in touch with updates at

least every two weeks. They will also try to

give you a rough idea of when your home

might be completing, but please be aware

this is just our best estimate, and it might

change as the build progresses. We will

only be able to give you a definite date

once Notice to Complete has been served.

coming To ViSiT

If you find that your move is just a bit too

far away and you can’t wait to see your new

home, we will be only too happy to show

you around if we can. Talk to your Sales

Executive, who will arrange a date and time

for you, but please note that, depending

on how building is going, parts of the

development might not be accessible.

If you do decide to come and visit, please

make sure you stick to the rules below

for your own safety while you’re looking

around. The Health and Safety laws for

building sites are very strict, and the last

thing we want is for anyone to get hurt.

Always stay with the Linden Homes staff

member who is showing you around –

don’t go anywhere on your own

Wear the protective equipment we will

provide you with

Be careful of things that could be

dangerous, like trenches, falling items,

machinery, scaffolding and piles of

bricks

Building Your Home

PLanS & LayouTS

These are available to view at our sales

office, if needed - unfortunately we won’t

be able to give you a copy to take away.

Please be aware that we reserve the right

to slightly adjust the positions of fences

or boundaries from what is shown in the

plans, to take minor physical features of

the site into account.

iF We’re STiLL BuiLding

You may be one of the first people moving

onto Cholsey Meadows, so we might still

be building other homes. Unfortunately,

noise and dust are inevitable parts of the

construction process. We will work hard

to keep any disruption to an absolute

minimum and thank you for your patience

and understanding.

Please take extra care when you’re driving

and walking around the development. The

final finish to roads and paths is one of the

last things we do, which means that drains

and manhole covers might be higher than

usual. Construction vehicles could also

be moving around, and we might have to

temporarily change the road and pavement

setup at certain points, so please follow

any signs that are displayed.

We also suggest you keep an extra eye

on any pets that are allowed outdoors –

construction sites are full of places to hide

in, and we would hate for them to get

stuck anywhere.

It’s for everyone’s benefit that our

construction staff are focussed on

completing the development on time. If

you do have a question, we appreciate

that it seems quicker and easier to talk to

someone on the development, but please

try not to distract our site staff. Instead,

call our Customer Service department - the

team is there to help you settle in and

answer any of your questions.

Please also be aware that while we will

make every effort to have everything done

by the time you move in, we might still

have small jobs to complete, like laying

turf if the weather hasn’t been suitable.

Thanks again for bearing with us.

Page 10 Linden Homes

For exTra reaSSurance

nHBc

To give you peace of mind and let you worry

about the more important things in life,

we’ve protected your home with an NHBC

Buildmark warranty, and all our homes are

built to NHBC’s high standards.

Essentially, this means you could be

entitled to compensation if we encounter

problems finishing your home, and any

issues once you have moved in that are our

fault will be put right. We know this is the

worst case scenario, but it gives everyone

peace of mind just in case something does

go wrong.

If you don’t think we have handled any

issues as well as you would have hoped,

you have the added reassurance of NHBC’s

resolution service.

You will find a specimen NHBC warranty

policy stored on your USB drive, and we

have included NHBC’s ‘Guide to Your New

Home’ in your box file. This will let you

familiarise yourself with all the details and

fine print – we will give this to you on the

day of your move.

The warranty lasts for ten years from the

date you become the legal owner. You will

deal with us during the first two years, and

direct with NHBC from years three to ten.

If you find you need to get in touch with

NHBC for whatever reason, their contact

details are:

NHBC

T: 0844 633 1000

W: www.nhbc.co.uk

other Warranties

Some fittings and finishes in your new home

may also come with their own separate

warranty, and we will make sure this is passed

on to you when you move in.

making your mark

Depending on the build stage we’re at

when you reserve your home, you might

be given the opportunity to choose the

colours of the tiles, worktops, etc. at our

Enhance studio.

Enhance is a unique in-house service

available exclusively to Linden Homes

purchasers, which offers you the chance

to tailor your new home ready for the day

you move in. Every Enhance experience

begins with a one-to-one consultation at

our studio with one of our dedicated Style

Consultants.

The range of potential options will vary

depending on the home you have chosen

and the stage of build, and your Style

Consultant will explain all of the choices

available to you from the standard

selections, and from our range of optional

upgrades.

The available choices could include:

kitchens

Units and worktops, including laminate

and marble finishes

Upgrades on appliances and white

goods

Bathrooms

Choice of tiles for walls and floors

Mirrored cabinets and storage

Mirrors

Extra fixtures and fittings

Finishing Touches

Built in wardrobes and other storage

Lighting

Carpets, curtains and blinds

Chrome sockets and switches

Variety of flooring options

Alarm systems and automatic garage

doors

Please ensure you make (and pay

for, if necessary) your choices by the

deadline you’re given to avoid delay or

disappointment.

Linden Homes Page 11

code For SuSTainaBLe HomeS

The Government launched the Code for

Sustainable Homes in 2007 to encourage

the building of greener, more energy

efficient housing. All homes with planning

permission granted after 2008 have to

meet a minimum Code level.

Homes assessed under the Code are given

a star rating, depending on the number of

environmentally friendly features that have

been used in construction. These range

across nine different categories, including

energy and water usage and materials

used, and each is worth a certain number

of points.

As well as being more energy efficient,

Code homes also encourage their owners

to live more sustainably, usually providing

facilities for things such as composting and

natural clothes drying.

your code Home

The number of points that a builder

accumulates for using sustainable features

is given a star rating from 1 to 6, a bit like

a hotel. Homes that are given 6 stars have

the highest levels of sustainability. Your

home has been given a rating of 3 stars.

Below is a list of the features your home

has that are designed to improve its

environmental credentials:

An energy efficient boiler to reduce

emissions

A mechanical ventilation with heat

recovery system and a boiler flue gas

heat recovery system to reduce heat loss

Insulation to floors, walls and the roof,

plus triple glazing to reduce the amount

of heat loss

100% of internal and external lighting

is energy efficient, which uses less

electricity to produce the same amount

of light as conventional lighting

Areas have been provided for cycle

storage, promoting sustainable transport

Recycling bins have been provided,

encouraging you to recycle as much as

possible

Your washer/dryer (if applicable),

dishwasher, oven and fridge/freezer are

all rated A for energy efficiency

Extra telephone points and power

sockets have been fitted, enabling you

to work from home

Dual flush toilets and flow restrictors

fitted to your sanitaryware to reduce

water consumption

The external areas have been landscaped

to provide environmental benefits, such

as plant species that require little water

A sustainable drainage system (SUDs)

has been installed on the development

to lessen the impact of storm water

on the drainage system and the risk of

localised flooding. Each home on the

development has an individual soakaway

as part of this system

The homes and the development itself

comply with some Secured by Design

guidelines, which set a certain standard

of security

Lifetime Homes features have been

fitted, including step-free access

and wider doorways and hallways to

accommodate disabled use

A Green Travel Plan has been produced,

encouraging residents to travel using

sustainable methods

Linden Homes Page 13

What Happens Next

your reSPonSiBiLiTieS

We understand that buying a new home

can be a confusing time, but we would

appreciate you making yourself aware of

what you need to do and when, so that

everything runs as smoothly as possible.

In particular, this includes getting to know

what happens during the buying process,

being available for meetings when they’re

needed and sticking to our Health and

Safety rules. The flowchart later on in your

manual should help make this clearer.

We would like to thank you in advance for

your support.

WHaT HaPPenS WHen

after reservation

Once you’ve made your reservation and

signed a Reservation Form, we can get

everything up and running, and we will

send you a letter confirming the details.

We won’t offer the property for sale

again while your Reservation Form is

still valid. You’ll be invited to a Post-

Reservation Meeting within 14 days of

your reservation, during which your Sales

Executive will cover all the details of the

home you will be buying, including:

The purchase terms, including

termination rights

Price, its validity and deposit to be paid

Heating, fittings and finishes

Plans and layouts

Covenants and parking arrangements

Once you’ve discussed everything, you

will be given the opportunity to ask any

questions. This meeting should take no

more than about two hours.

Next, we will give you a deadline by which

you will need to have exchanged contracts

with us. This is usually 28 days from signing

your Reservation Form. You will need to

contact your solicitor, if you’ve chosen to

use one, to give them the deadline date and

information on your current property, if you

have one to sell. You will need to give us

their details straight away, plus the details of

the estate agent selling your current home,

so we can liaise with them direct.

We will confirm the following before

Exchange of Contracts, both to you and

via an Information Sheet to your solicitor:

Local authority search

Transfer document

Estimated completion date (this will be

fixed if your home is already finished)

A preliminary deposit will also be taken

at this time, which is protected under the

terms of your warranty. Please be aware

that if, for whatever reason, you decide

not to proceed to Exchange of Contracts,

your deposit will be refunded, minus any

administration costs. You can find further

details on your Reservation Form.

your right to cancel

If you feel we’ve delayed the process

unreasonably, or made major changes to

the property without letting you know, you

have the right to terminate the contract.

If you decide to cancel your reservation,

please contact your Sales Executive

immediately to advise them. This manual

will also need to be returned before any

monies can be refunded.

after exchange of contracts

Your soliciter will apply for searches to

make sure nothing could affect your new

home, such as restrictions or planning

permission for other structures nearby.

Before you exchange contracts, they will

explain the Transfer Document to you,

highlighting anything especially important,

they will then ask you to sign it.

Once your new home is ready, our solicitor

will serve the Notice to Complete, which

gives you a fixed period in which to legally

complete the purchase of your new Linden

home.

Page 14 Linden Homes

STageS in THe Buying ProceSS

reservation

Post-reservation meeting

Build Progress updates

Planning your move

notice to complete

Pre-Handover demonstration

Legal completion & Handover

Settling in

exchange of contracts

28 days after reservation

Pre-Handover demonstration

Once the Notice to Complete has been

served, you will be invited to a Pre-

Handover Demonstration, which is ideally

a few days before final handover - we find

customers tend to settle in quicker if their

demonstration is done shortly before they

move into their new home. Your Sales

Executive and the Site Manager will meet

you, take you to your new home and run

through all its facilities and functions,

making sure you’re familiar with them.

These will typically include:

Hot water, heating and kitchen

appliances

The best cleaning methods to use for

your fittings

Servicing and maintenance

Legal completion

The wait is almost over! On legal

completion day, your Sales Executive will

meet you at your new home. Once we’ve

got confirmation that legal completion

has taken place, we will take the meter

readings and ask you to sign a Handover

Form. The home is then legally yours, and

you can begin moving in.

LegaL & FinanciaL aSSiSTance

choosing a Solicitor

We would always advise you to instruct a

conveyancing solicitor to manage the legal

side of buying your home. Their main

tasks would be to:

Check the contract for your new home,

and make sure it includes everything it

should

Carry out Land Registry checks on the

new home and research the local area

Organise paying your money to Linden

Homes

Check everything to do with your

mortgage (if you have one), and

arrange for funds to be transferred when

required

Please make sure you give your solicitor

all the information they need. As well as

making the process easier, it means buying

your new home won’t be held up and you

could well start enjoying it sooner.

If you don’t know where to start looking

for a solicitor or need some help,

your Sales Executive will be happy to

recommend one. We find the process runs

much more smoothly if the solicitor you

use is already familiar with our procedures.

applying for a mortgage

If you need a mortgage to complete the

purchase of your new home, you will

probably know that the number of different

types available adds up to well into the

hundreds, so we won’t be surprised if you

need a bit of help.

Your Sales Executive can put you in touch

with our recommended independent

financial solutions provider, the New Homes

Mortgage Helpline, who can make an

appointment with you to run through the

options available.

For more information, you can visit the

website, www.thenewhomesgroup.co.uk

Linden Homes Page 15

HomeBuying TermS

If you’ve not bought a property before,

some of the terms used might be

unfamiliar to you. We’ve explained the

most common ones below, but if you need

any more help, please get in touch with us

or your solicitor.

Building Warranty

An insurance-backed building warranty on

your new home.

cHaPS (clearing House automated

Payment System)

An electronic, bank to bank payment

system that guarantees same business day

payment provided the funds are released

before 3pm.

charge

An entry in the Land Registry title that

shows that the property has been used as

collateral for a loan, e.g. mortgage.

collateral/Security

An insurance policy or property pledged as

a guarantee of repayment of a loan.

completion

When a transfer of property from vendor

to purchaser takes place and, in exchange

for the balance of the purchase price, the

necessary documents are handed over.

This is the point at which ownership is

transferred to the purchaser.

conveyance

The deed which, in the event of a freehold

property having unregistered title,

transfers ownership of said title to the

purchaser. If the property is leasehold,

the deed remains the same but is called

an assignment. The title is then registered

and the deed is called a Transfer.

enquiries Before contract

Prior to the purchaser’s solicitor allowing

the purchaser to sign a contract, either

party is fully entitled to ask a collection of

detailed questions regarding many aspects

of the prospective property for purchase

and the vendor or his solicitor is requested

to answer these fully before any contracts

may be signed. These may also be called

Preliminary Enquiries.

exchange of contracts

The contracts become legally binding at

the stage in the transfer of a property

when the signed parts of both the

purchaser’s and the vendor’s contracts are

exchanged.

Freehold

The outright and absolute ownership of

land and any property which stands on it.

ground rent

A payment made at specific times as

required under the terms of the lease.

Land registry

An official government office which

registers and maintains all details of land

ownership and any changes relating to that

ownership.

Land registration Fee

A fee related to the value of the property

being purchased for registering the

ownership of the property in a new

owner’s name.

Lease

Document recording the terms of

ownership of a leasehold dwelling.

Leasehold

Where a property is built on land owned

by a person or organisation other than the

owner of the property on the land. The

leaseholder will have occupational rights

for a fixed term in accordance with the

conditions contained within the lease.

Lessor

The person or organisation who authorises

and grants a lease.

Local authority Search

A search commissioned by your solicitor

to determine any entries recorded against

your new property, such as proposed road

or traffic schemes.

managing agent

Linden Homes appoints a professional

Managing Agent to administer the service

charges required to run any common

services and ensure that you’re charged a

reasonable sum for the services provided.

Their aim is to ensure that both your

building and estate areas (if applicable)

are managed to a high standard and at a

reasonable cost. Provision of services is

structured within the terms of the lease.

Page 16 Linden Homes

mortgage

Also called a legal charge. A legal

document which pledges freehold or

leasehold property as security for a loan.

If the mortgage payments aren’t paid in

full on the due date, it gives the lender

(such as the bank or building society) well

defined rights to the property, including

the power to sell it if the lender so wishes.

In accordance with the agreed terms of

the mortgage, when the loan advanced is

repaid with all due interest, these rights

are completely cancelled.

mortgagee

Any person or organisation that lends

money for a mortgage, e.g. a building

society, insurance company, bank or

private individual.

mortgage interest

In return for the loan that has been

advanced on a property by the lender,

you’ll pay a certain sum in interest. The

rate of this interest can be affected by

economic conditions prevailing at any

given time and the general financial state

of the lender. This will therefore lead to a

fluctuation of rate unless you have a ‘fixed

rate’ mortgage.

mortgagor

This simply means the borrower, i.e. you.

mortgage Protection Policy

An insurance policy taken out against

a mortgage, which ensures that, in the

event of your death or sickness, the full

outstanding amount of the loan will be

paid off. It’s also possible to take out a

similar policy, which ensures that in the

event of the borrower’s redundancy, the

mortgage repayments are met for a fixed

period.

mortgage Term

When a mortgage is arranged it’ll be for a

fixed time period.

Principal

Also known as capital sum, meaning the

amount of the loan on which interest is

calculated over the mortgage term.

redemption

The mortgage is finished when the final

payment is made by the borrower. In

the event of a mortgage being repaid

earlier than the agreed fixed term, some

organisations make a specific charge called

an early redemption fee. If applied, this

fee will vary, depending on the lender’s

terms.

Searches

Questions asked by solicitors on behalf of

a potential purchaser of various bodies,

e.g. Local Authority or Environment

Agency, about a property and the land on

which it’s built.

Stamp duty Land Tax

This is a government levy and payable by

the purchaser of the property. When the

stamp duty land tax has been paid, an

official embossed stamp will be placed on

the document of sale. Payment is based

on the purchase price of the property

and is on a sliding scale. For further

information please visit the government’s

website, www.direct.gov.uk. Stamp duty

is levied (but at a lower rate) on some

mortgage deeds and some insurance

policies.

Survey

Action carried out by way of inspection of

a property by an independent surveyor,

usually on behalf of the person intending

to purchase the property or financial body.

Title

Legal documents confirming your

entitlement to ownership of a property.

Valuation report

A professional assessment of the value of

the property as it stands at the time of

inspection for mortgage purposes, made

by a person nominated by the organisation

that has received the mortgage

application.

Vendor

Either an individual, company or

organisation that owns a property and

wishes to sell it.

Linden Homes Page 17

PLanning your moVe

As we’re sure you will know, there are many

things to think about and sort out before

you move house. To help make this a bit

easier, we’ve provided a helpful checklist

of some of the most important things to

remember in the run up to the big day.

Three Weeks To go

Get a few quotes from removal

companies, and ask about extra services,

like providing packing boxes, if you

need them. Make sure the company

you choose is fully insured in case they

damage or lose any of your belongings

Check that your home contents

insurance covers you during your move

and at your new address

If you have especially big or awkwardly

shaped pieces of furniture, please

measure them to make sure you will

be able to get them into your new

home. Unfortunately we can’t take

responsibility if they don’t fit

Arrange for your utility accounts to be

finalised. Don’t forget to register with

your new providers at your new address,

especially telephone and internet, as

these can sometimes take two or three

weeks to be connected

Book a qualified electrician, gas installer

or plumber to disconnect any appliances

you’re taking with you and install them

in your new home

Start packing things you won’t need

until after you have moved. It’s a good

idea to label them with the contents so

you can identify them easily

Two Weeks To go

Start throwing away anything you don’t

want any more from cupboards, lofts

and sheds. Donate good quality items

to a charity shop if you can, and recycle

where possible

Arrange for the Royal Mail to redirect

your post. You can do this online at

www.royalmail.com

Make any necessary change of address

notifications

one Week To go

Double check the arrangements you

have made with your removal company

Clearly label anything you’re leaving

behind, and remove anything fixed that

you’re taking with you

Make up a toolkit with things like a

screwdriver, pliers, knife, hammer,

hooks, fuses, etc., and keep it handy for

your move

The day Before

Finish your packing, except for things

like clothes, toiletries, food and drink,

etc., that you might need on the day

Keep some cash available just in case

Give all your surfaces and paintwork a

wipe down, and clean or vacuum the

floors

Make sure your solicitor is aware of the

time of your move, so they can transfer

the right funds in time before you go to

collect your keys

Collect and label all the keys for your

current home

on The day

Make a note of your gas, water and

electricity meter readings

Check all storage spaces for anything

you might have left behind, and lock all

your windows and doors

Page 18 Linden Homes

Change of Address Notifications

You will probably need to tell the following

organisations, if they apply to you, that

you have moved. It’s also a good idea to

take a look at www.iammoving.com - you

can enter your old and new address details

just once, and the website will update all

the companies of your choice at the same

time.

Bank and Building Society

Catalogues

Clubs and associations

Credit card companies

Doctor and dentist

DVLA - you can do this online at

www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

Employers

Gyms or health clubs

H M Revenue & Customs - you can do

this online at www.hmrc.gov.uk

Internet provider

Insurance companies

Local authority’s council tax department

Magazine and newspaper subscriptions

Mobile phone companies

National Savings and Premium Bond

companies

Opticians

Pension providers

Professional associations and trade

unions

Rental companies

Satellite TV companies

Schools and colleges

Store loyalty cards

TV Licensing - you can do this online at

www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Telephone provider

Utility suppliers

Vets

Linden Homes Page 19

Settling In

your HandoVer

Once we have received confirmation that

legal completion has taken place, we will

do a final check of your new home with

you, to make sure we’re aware of anything

that might need our attention. We will

then ask you to sign a Handover Form to

say you’re happy with the condition of the

property and to avoid any confusion later

on, should anything get damaged while

you’re moving in. Most importantly, we

will give you your keys.

aFTer HandoVer

Even after you’ve moved in, we will still

be on hand in case you need anything.

We want to make sure everything is right

in your new home, which is why you will

receive a Welcome Letter from us, plus a

courtesy phone call after you have moved

in, just to check everything is OK. You

will also receive a call from our Customer

Service department, introducing your

Co-ordinator and offering a Welcome Visit.

While we definitely aim to get everything

right first time, occasionally something

may get missed. If you happen to spot

something upon closer inspection once

you’ve moved in, please let us know, and

we will aim to deal with it within 14 days,

subject to any materials we need being

available. Please note that this doesn’t

include anything caused during your move,

or through normal wear and tear.

You should also be aware that timber

doors have a tendency to move if their

moisture content changes. Minor warping

that doesn’t affect their operation is not

classed as a defect, but we will adjust

anything worse for you, after you’ve been

in your home for a reasonable amount of

time so it’s stabilised.

customer Satisfaction Survey

Good feedback from our customers is the

best kind of reward we can get, which is

why we want to make sure we’ve done

everything in our power to make your

experience enjoyable. Around six weeks

after you have moved in, you will receive

a call from In-House Research, a company

we have employed to conduct a short

customer satisfaction survey for us. This

won’t take long at all, and we’d really

appreciate your involvement. We take all

the responses seriously, and use them to

constantly improve our services and staff

training. Thank you in advance for your

time.

managing agent

Cholsey Meadows has some shared

features, which might include things such

as landscaping, a children’s play area,

and for apartments there may also be

communal stairways, parking areas, etc. In

most cases it isn’t down to one individual

home owner to look after these, but

everyone living on the development.

To save you and everyone living on the

development any hassle, we will appoint

a Managing Agent who will look after all

this for you and you will pay them a service

charge to cover the costs.

When our Sales Executive was taking your

reservation they will have pointed this out

to you and given you more details. Feel

free to talk to them if you have a question.

Once you’ve moved in, please give your

contact details to the Managing Agent,

including an email address, plus daytime,

evening and emergency contact numbers.

Rest assured they will be treated in the

strictest confidence, and will only be used

if we need to get hold of you regarding

your home or the development.

Contact details and more information

about the Managing Agent at Cholsey

Meadows can be found in the ‘About

Cholsey Meadows’ section of your manual.

Page 20 Linden Homes

FiTTing FLoor FiniSHeS

We’ve left a gap between the bottom of

internal doors and the floor. The reason

being, when you come to fit carpets, tiles

or any other floor finish, you may need

to get a carpenter to ‘shave’ a little off

the bottom of the door so that it closes

easily and doesn’t drag across the finish.

If we’re fitting your flooring, then we will

automatically do this for you, but if you

are purchasing it yourself then you will

need to pay for a carpenter to do this for

you. You might also need to do this if

you’re changing the flooring.

A maximum of 6mm should be trimmed off

fire doors, as this could affect their ability

to stop a fire from spreading.

TeLePHone SerViceS

There are so many telephone service

suppliers out there, all offering different

packages dependent on whether you

include broadband or other services.

That’s why we’ve left this to you to

organise so that you get the service that

suits your needs best.

In our experience it’s probably best you

start organising this several weeks before

you are due to move in so that you are up

and running shortly after your move.

It’s also best to clarify exactly what your

supplier will do as they can sometimes

charge to connect extension sockets.

exceSS moiSTure

There is water in practically everything that

goes into building your home. While it’s

perfectly fine to live in your home when

it’s ready, it won’t be completely finished

until all this water has worked its way back

out and the structure of your home is

totally dry. This will probably take around

6 to 18 months. Although it’s likely you

won’t even notice it happening, you need

to let it run its course to avoid damaging

your home.

To allow the water to escape slowly

and do as little damage as possible,

we recommend keeping your home’s

temperature as even as you can. This

means keeping thermostats below 20oC, so

your home doesn’t heat up too quickly and

risk cracking as the moisture escapes.

Once all this moisture has freed itself

from the fabric, it needs to get out into

the atmosphere so it doesn’t damage

your home. For this reason, we suggest

you leave your windows open as much as

possible, use your mechanical ventilation

system as much as you can, and leave

trickle vents open when you go out.

condensation

While you might find you have a bit more

condensation in your home than usual

while your home is drying out, moisture

levels should be perfectly normal once

this has finished. However, please bear in

mind that some everyday things you do in

your home can cause condensation, such

as cooking, washing clothes and having

a bath or shower. This can lead to mould

growing on walls and ceilings, especially

in corners behind wardrobes and other

furniture where air can’t easily reach.

If you don’t sort out the problem, it

can damage floor coverings, bedding,

clothes and paint/wallpaper. However,

condensation is one of the most common

problems in houses of all ages, but

particularly newly built ones, and there

are a few simple things you can do to help

avoid it:

Keep your heating on a constant low

temperature, and don’t let your home

go unheated for long periods of time

Don’t use portable gas heaters, as these

produce a lot of water vapour

Leave as many windows open as you can

when you’re in, and leave trickle vents

open and your mechanical ventilation

system on when you go out

Use the extractor fans in your kitchen

and bathrooms

Leave internal doors and wardrobe doors

open so the air can circulate

Shrinkage cracks

As all the water escapes from your home,

the building materials are likely to shrink

slightly, which could mean small cracks

appear in your walls or ceilings. These

cracks are normal, and it’s very easy to

fill them with a readily available product

once your home has properly dried out.

Please remember that Linden Homes is not

responsible for repairing them.

Linden Homes Page 21

your LeaSe

Please make sure you familiarise yourself

with your lease – it’s very important, as it

tells you everything you can and can’t do

with your home, and what you’re required

to do as a lessee.

It’s important to read the entire thing, but

please be especially aware of the points

below:

Subletting

You need to get permission if you would

like to sublet your home. Please make

sure your tenants read this manual too, so

that they’re familiar with how to clean and

maintain everything. Linden Homes won’t

be responsible if they cause any damage.

We strongly suggest you take on a good

letting agent to organise the rent and look

after the tenants.

making alterations

You will need to get written permission

from the freeholder before you make any

changes to your home’s structure. Please

also bear in mind the following:

Pipes and cables are hidden behind

the surfaces of walls and ceilings – be

careful when nailing or drilling. We

recommend using a cable detector

Some walls might also be fire, acoustic

or vapour barriers, and damaging them

might put yourself or your neighbours in

danger

Pets

You’re only allowed to keep pets if you get

permission from the freeholder. Please

note that if you’re given permission but

valid complaints are then received from

neighbours, it might be withdrawn.

noise

As you would not expect your neighbours

to make any unnecessary noise, please

make sure you don’t either. You should

not be able to hear any music, TVs, etc.,

from outside your home.

repairs

It’s your responsibility to make sure

everything inside your home stays in good

condition.

Television equipment

You’re not allowed to attach an aerial,

satellite dish or similar item to the outside

of your home.

Windows

All the windows in your home should be

fitted with either curtains or blinds – there

might also be restrictions on the colour of

the lining. You might also not be allowed

to hang anything from your windows, like

clothes or flags.

Linden Homes Page 23

Customer Care

WHo To aSk

If you have any questions or problems at

any stage of buying your Linden home, our

contact details are below:

during reservation, exchange,

completion & Handover

Your Sales Executive will be on hand every

step of the way to guide you through the

buying process. You can make a note of

their name and contact details below:

Name:

_________________________________

Telephone:

_________________________________

Email:

_________________________________

Post-Handover

After you have moved in, our Customer

Service department will be there for two

years in case you need to contact us. The

details are below:

Customer Service

Linden Homes Chiltern

Linden House

Linden Square

Harefield

Middlesex UB9 6TQ

T: 01895 827400

E: customerservices.chiltern@

lindenhomes.co.uk

HeLPing uS imProVe

If you’re not happy with the service you

have received from Linden Homes during

any part of the purchase process, or you

think we could do something better, please

let us know. We want your experience of

buying a home, whether it’s your first or

your twenty-first, to be a positive one.

You can let us know using the details on

this page.

If you still do not think we have dealt

with your issue as well as you would have

hoped, you can refer the matter to NHBC.

It can also be taken further if necessary,

to the Consumer Code’s independent

Resolution Service. This provides a third

party arbitrator, who will look at both sides

of the issue and make a final decision.

You will be able to find more information

on our website, www.lindenhomes.co.uk

in an emergency

You will be pleased to know that, for the

first two years after you have moved into

your new home, you’re covered by our 24

hour emergency service.

This covers eventualities such as:

No heating or hot water

No electricity

A water leak that can’t be contained or

is seeping into the electrical system

Blocked drains causing overflowing

Toilet not flushing if there is only one in

your home

Broken window or door lock meaning

your home is not secure

Roof leak (other than one caused by

storm damage - this is covered by your

insurance)

Please be aware that if you call us in an

emergency and your situation does not

fit one of the categories above, we might

have to charge you for the callout.

For emergency assistance, please phone

our Customer Service department. If your

emergency falls outside of office hours,

please call 0800 014 7557.

Page 24 Linden Homes

Your purchase is covered by the NHBC

Buildmark warranty and we will provide

you with reliable information concerning

this and any other guarantees and

warranties from which you may benefit

Your exchange deposit is protected

and we’ll explain how. We will also

recommend that you appoint a

professional legal advisor to carry out

the legal formalities of buying the

property and to represent your interests

Information about the timing (or

our best estimate) of construction,

legal completion and handover of

the property will be provided. Once a

completion date is confirmed we will

offer you a demonstration of your new

home

Our aftersales and customer service

procedures will be explained to you in

detail

There are procedures in place for dealing

with customer complaints, including

those concerning warranties, and we

will co-operate fully with appropriately

qualified professional advisors

our cuSTomer cHarTer

At Linden Homes, we’re committed to

providing you with a first-class service.

Our Customer Charter, below, sets out how

we do this.

Procedures and systems are in place to

meet all the commitments we’ve made

in this charter

Our team is trained to understand their

responsibilities to you, the customer,

and to know exactly what the charter

means to you and us

You will be provided with information

to enable you to make an informed

decision about buying the property

Our Sales Team will be on hand to

answer your questions

There may be choices and options

available to you when you buy and we

will make sure you are aware of them

Health and safety advice will be

provided to minimise the risk of danger,

when visiting the development during

construction and when living in your

new home

We aim to provide accurate and truthful

information in all our marketing and

advertising material

Our contract of sale terms and

conditions are fair and clearly set out

You will also have our cancellation policy

made clear to you

conSumer code For Home BuiLderS

The Consumer Code for Home Builders was

brought in in April 2010 to make sure that

all home builders meet certain standards

when it comes to selling their homes. It

makes sure that all buyers are treated fairly

and they know what to expect, are given

reliable information and know what to do

if they are not happy.

Linden Homes is proud to comply fully

with the Consumer Code for Home

Builders. If you need more information

or would like details on the exact

requirements of the Code, you can visit

www.consumercodeforhomebuilders.com

or speak to your Sales Executive.

Linden Homes Page 25

About Cholsey Meadows

Cholsey Meadows is a flagship collection

of beautiful homes set in 100 acres of

traditional English parkland.

There will be plenty to keep you busy at

Cholsey Meadows - from the surrounding

countryside and the River Thames to

new cricket facilities and much more.

The village of Cholsey is close by and the

historic city of Oxford is only 12 miles

away.

LocaL auTHoriTy

In case you need to contact your Local

Authority regarding council tax or other

issues, their contact details are:

South Oxfordshire District Council

Benson Lane

Crowmarsh Gifford

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 8ED

T: 01491 823000

W: www.southoxon.gov.uk

managing agenT

The Managing Agent for Cholsey Meadows

is Pentland Estate Management. Their

main responsibilities are to maintain the

communal areas of apartment buildings,

roads and driveways and landscaped

areas. For this you will pay a monthly

service charge - you will by given more

information on this by your solicitor. In

case you need to get in touch, their

contact details are:

Pentland Estate Management

Wolvey

Hinckley

Leicestershire LE10 3JH

T: 01455 882431

W: www.pentlandestate

management.co.uk

PoST

Your post will be delivered to your

individual post box in the communal area.

Parking

You will be allocated one parking space

with your apartment - you will be told

exactly which space it is before you move

in. Please make sure you only park in your

allocated space.

cycLe STorage

Cycle storage racks are located across the

development so you can keep your bicycle

safe.

acceSS

You will be given keys that’ll let you get in

through the main entrance door and into

your own apartment.

Visitors to your home can let you know

they have arrived by pressing a button

outside the main entrance door. Your

entry phone will then ring, and you can

pick it up and have a conversation with

your visitor. Press the ‘unlock’ button to

let them in.

Page 26 Linden Homes

non-recyclable Waste

We have provided refuse bins in the

communal bin store, so you can dispose

of anything non-recyclable. These will be

emptied periodically by the council. You

should bag and tie your waste securely,

and put it in the correct bin. Please

don’t leave it anywhere else on the

development, including next to the bin

or outside your apartment – this is both

unhygienic and a fire hazard.

Bulky items

If you have larger items to get rid of, such

as furniture or white goods, the council

offers a bulky waste collection service. The

minimum charge is £20 for up to three

items, then £6.35 for each additional item.

To book a collection, visit

www.southoxon.gov.uk and complete the

bulky waste collection request form.

Alternatively, you can donate unwanted

items in good condition to a local charity.

Orinoco collects paint, scrap materials and

unwanted household items and re-supplies

them from their store in Oxford to promote

re-use, art and creative play. For more

information visit www.oxorinoco.org

Queries

If you have any problems or questions

about rubbish disposal and recycling

in your area, please contact South

Oxfordshire District Council:

South Oxfordshire District Council

Benson Lane

Crowmarsh Gifford

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 8ED

T: 01491 823000

W: www.southoxon.gov.uk

more information

The following websites can provide you

with some useful information on recycling:

W: www.recycling-guide.org.uk

W: www.recyclenow.com

W: www.wrap.org.uk

ruBBiSH & recycLing

recycling

We have provided communal recycling

bins on the development, so you can

still recycle as normal. These are located

in the bin store, next to your apartment

block, and will be emptied periodically by

the council. You can recycle paper and

cardboard, food and drink cartons, plastic

bottles, glass and aerosols. Please make

sure items are washed out if necessary, and

place them loose in the bin. Smaller bins

are also provided in your kitchen, which

you can empty into the communal ones

when they are full.

Your nearest recycling bank for books,

CDs/DVDs, mixed recycling and shoes is at

the Goldsmith’s Lane car park. The nearest

for glass and textiles is in the car park of

Cholsey Sports Pavilion, and the nearest

for Tetra Paks is at the Council Offices in

Crowmarsh Gifford.

For larger items, Oakley Wood Household

Waste Recycling Centre is located on

Henley Road, about 11/2 miles east of

Wallingford. Here, you can recycle normal

batteries, car batteries and engine oil,

cardboard, clothing, fridges and freezers,

fluorescent tubes, furniture, garden waste,

gas bottles, glass, metal, newspapers and

magazines, soil and rubble, chemicals,

wood, electrical items and paint.

The centre is open from 8am until 5pm

every day. During April to September it

opens until 8pm on Thursdays.

Linden Homes Page 27

PuBLic TranSPorT

By using public or sustainable transport

whenever you can, you can help lower

carbon emissions.

Buses

Your nearest bus stop is on the corner

of Reading Road and Papist Way. The

number 136 to Wallingford serves this

stop, which is operated by Thames Travel.

You will find timetables and route maps in

your box file.

For more information, you can visit the

operator’s website,

www.thames-travel.co.uk

Trains

Your nearest train station is Cholsey, which

is run by First Great Western. From here,

you can catch regular services to London

Paddington, Reading and Oxford. You will

find timetables and a copy of First Great

Western’s network map in your box file.

For up-to-date information on train times,

fares and delays, you can contact National

Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50, or visit

the website, www.nationalrail.co.uk

cycling

Your nearest cycle route is the Thames

Valley Cycle Route, which runs from

Putney Bridge to Oxford via Reading,

including sections of National Routes 4

and 5. You can find a map of the cycle

routes in Oxford in your box file.

The Sustrans website holds more

information, including maps of this and

other routes, safety advice and cycle-

related events across the country. You can

visit it at www.sustrans.org.uk

car Sharing & Parking

A liftsharing scheme has been set up for

Oxfordshire to encourage people who

take the same route around or even out

of the county to share a car, saving money

and reducing emissions. You can sign up

securely at www.oxfordshire.liftshare.com

There is a number of car parks in

Wallingford. Maps and lists of the car

parks and their locations are available at

www.southoxon.gov.uk, where you can

also find more information on parking

charges and permits.

Park & ride

Wallingford doesn’t have its own Park and

Ride service - the nearest is in Oxford.

Buses run from five sites on the outskirts

of the city. Your closest site is Redbridge

- a bus into the city centre from here takes

ten minutes. Buses run approximately

every 8-10 minutes during the day, and

every 30 minutes during the evening until

around 11pm. For more information, visit

www.parkandride.net

Page 28 Linden Homes

in your area

For your convenience, we’ve located some

of the nearest important services that you

might need to use once you’ve moved in:

doctors

Wallingford Medical Practice

Reading Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9DU

T: 01491 835577

W: www.wallingfordmedicalpractice.co.uk

Goring Surgery

Red Cross Road

Goring

Reading

Berkshire RG8 9HG

T: 01491 872372

W: www.goringwoodcote

medicalpractice.nhs.uk

dentists

Wallingford Dental Clinic

Wallingford Hospital

Reading Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9DU

T: 01491 208630

W: www.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk/dental

Croft House Dental Surgery

8c Castle Street

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 8DL

T: 01491 836379

Hospital with a&e department

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading

Berkshire RG1 5AN

T: 0118 322 5111 / 999

W: www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk

minor injuries unit

Wallingford Community Hospital

Reading Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9DU

T: 01491 208500

W: www.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk

Linden Homes Page 29

chemists

Rowlands Pharmacy

1 The Pound

Cholsey

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9NS

T: 01491 652392

W: www.rowlandspharmacy.co.uk

Lloyds Pharmacy

20-21 Market Place

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 0AD

T: 01491 836206

W: www.lloydspharmacy.com

Police Station

Wallingford Police Station

Reading Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9DN

T: 101 / 999

W: www.thamesvalley.police.uk

Fire Station

Wallingford Fire Station

Station Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 0HU

T: 01865 842999 / 999

W: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Primary Schools

Cholsey Primary School

Church Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9PP

T: 01491 651862

W: www.cholsey.oxon.sch.uk

South Stoke Primary School

The Street

South Stoke

Oxfordshire RG8 0JS

T: 01491 872948

W: www.southstokeprimaryschool.co.uk

Secondary Schools

Cranford House School

Moulsford

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9HT

T: 01491 651218

W: www.cranfordhouse.net

Wallingford School

St George’s Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 8HH

T: 01491 837115

W: www.wallingford.oxon.sch.uk

college

Abingdon & Witney College

Wootton Road

Abingdon

Oxfordshire OX14 1GG

T: 01235 555585

W: www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk

Post Office

One Stop

19-20 The Forty

Cholsey

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9ND

T: 01491 652388

W: www.postoffice.co.uk

This is also your nearest postbox.

Library

Wallingford Library

High Street

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 0DB

T: 01491 837395

W: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Leisure centres

Didcot Leisure Centre

Mereland Road

Didcot

Oxfordshire OX11 8AY

T: 01235 811250

W: www.nexuscommunity.org

Riverside Park & Pools

Crowmarsh Gifford

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 8EB

T: 01491 835232

W: www.nexuscommunity.org

Page 30 Linden Homes

golf club

The Springs Hotel & Golf Club

1 Wallingford Road

North Stoke

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 6BE

T: 01491 836687

W: www.thespringshotel.com

Food Shops

Tesco

The Forty

Cholsey

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9ND

T: 0845 026 9378

W: www.tesco.com

Waitrose

1 St Martin’s Street

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 0EF

T: 01491 832030

W: www.waitrose.com

Banks

Nationwide

15-16 St Mary’s Street

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 0LE

T: 0845 266 0744

W: www.nationwide.co.uk

Lloyds TSB

4 Market Place

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 0EH

T: 0845 300 0000

W: www.lloydstsb.com

Place of Worship

St Mary’s C of E Church

Church Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9PP

T: 01491 651812

community centre

Wallingford Youth & Community Centre

Shakespeare House

Clapcot Way

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 8HS

T: 01491 837053

Parks & Play areas

Wallingford Castle Meadows has wildlife,

walks and lots of open space.

Wallingford Sports Park features six floodlit

tennis courts, a floodlit all-weather pitch,

four rugby pitches, three squash courts

(two normal and one show), a grass

football pitch, a cricket pitch and a skittle

alley, plus changing and shower facilities.

All of these are available to hire. It also

has a main hall with a capacity of 150

people plus bar and kitchen facilities, and

is available to hire for private functions.

Wallingford Sports Park

Hithercroft Road

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9RB

T: 01491 835044

W: www.wallingfordsportspark.co.uk

cinema

Cineworld

27 Station Road

Didcot

Oxfordshire OX11 7NE

T: 0871 200 2000

W: www.cineworld.co.uk

allotments

Your nearest allotments are The Fir Tree

Allotments on Fir Tree Avenue. Phone

Wallingford Town Council on

01491 835373 to have your name added

to the waiting list for a non-refundable

deposit of £10.

museum

Wallingford Museum

52 High Street

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 0DB

T: 01491 835065

W: www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk

Linden Homes Page 31

Pubs

The Red Lion

39 Wallingford Road

Cholsey

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9LG

T: 01491 651295

W: www.theredlioncholsey.co.uk

The Morning Star

98 Papist Way

Cholsey

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9QL

T: 01491 651413

Shopping centres

The Orchard Centre

20 Station Road

Didcot

Oxfordshire OX11 7LL

T: 01235 519014

W: www.orchardcentre.co.uk

The Oracle Shopping Centre

Reading

Berkshire RG1 2AG

T: 0118 965 9000

W: www.theoracle.com

Farmers’ market

A Farmers’ Market is held in Wallingford

town centre every third Tuesday and fifth

Saturday of the month from 8.30am to

1.30pm. For more information, you can

visit www.southoxon.gov.uk

Linden Homes Page 33

How Things Work

eLecTricaL

Your home is connected to the electricity

supply via a meter, which as you know,

keeps track of how much you’re using.

This is also connected to your consumer

unit, which contains a number of miniature

circuit breakers (otherwise known as trip

switches) - one for each circuit in your

home. These will automatically turn off

the circuit if a fault is detected, so if you

suddenly lose power to a specific area

of your home, this is the first thing you

should check. They will have been labelled

for you, so identifying the right circuit

should be simple.

There are limits on changes you can make

to the electrical system in your home

– these are laid down in government

legislation, specifically Building Regulation

Part P – Electrical Safety. Unless a

registered installer makes the changes,

you need to get approval from your local

council before they can be done. For more

information, visit

www.planningportal.gov.uk

Your home’s original electrical system

will also need to be inspected within ten

years to check it is still safe and working

correctly, and Linden Homes cannot be

held responsible for any alterations you

have made.

You will receive the Electrical Test

Certificate for your new home on

completion. This gives all the information

and technical details about the wiring in

your home, so you should keep it in a safe

place.

gaS

The gas supply to your home enters

through your meter. Please note that the

earth-bonded cable fastened to the main

pipe should not be removed under any

circumstances – it prevents the pipe from

becoming electrified.

Saving electricity & gas

By sticking to the suggestions below, you

can help to lower your energy bills, and

feel good knowing you’re helping the

environment too.

Turn your thermostat down by just 1oC –

this can potentially reduce your heating

bill by up to 10%

If your heating or hot water is controlled

by a programmer, set it to come on only

when you need it, and not all the time

Close your curtains and blinds in the

evening to reduce the amount of heat

escaping through your windows

Remember to turn the lights off in

rooms you’re not using

Don’t leave appliances on standby –

they are still using energy. Turn them

off instead

Unplug laptops, mobile phones or other

devices when they have finished charging

Wait until your washing machine or

dishwasher is full before putting it on –

one full load uses less energy than two

half loads

Only boil as much water in the kettle as

you need

Use energy saving light bulbs instead of

ordinary ones – they produce the same

amount of light but use much less energy.

They also last around ten times longer

Let hot food cool down before you put

it in the fridge or freezer

For more information, you can visit the

Energy Saving Trust’s website,

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

WaTer

Your water supply comes into your home via

a stoptap, which can be used to completely

turn off the water to your home if you need

to, such as if you have a leak or if you go on

holiday. There’s also a stoptap outside your

home – you will be shown where both of

these are when you move in.

If you find one of your drainage pipes

gets blocked, it’s very likely you will

be able to solve the problem yourself

without needing to call out a professional.

There are lots of products that you can

easily buy in supermarkets to dissolve

and remove blockages in drainage pipes.

If the problem is with a sink, you can

also unscrew the trap underneath and

physically remove the blockage yourself.

Remember to put a bowl or container on

the floor to catch any water.

Luckily, there are a few small things

you can do to avoid blockages like this

happening:

Do not put cooking oil down your sink –

it becomes a lot more solid once it cools

down

Page 34 Linden Homes

Do not put anything down your toilet

that it’s not designed for, such as

nappies, sanitary products, cotton buds

or medicines

Pull out any hair that gets trapped in

your plugholes

As you would expect, Linden Homes

will not pay for a professional to remove

blockages that have occurred because you

haven’t followed the instructions above.

Loss of Power or Water

If you find your electricity, gas or water

supply has stopped, please check with your

neighbours, the site office (if applicable)

or your provider to check it’s not due to

works being done in the area before you

contact us.

Saving Water

Although our British climate sometimes

makes it seem unlikely, water is a precious

commodity that we can’t afford to waste

– follow the simple points below to make

sure you’re not using any more than you

need to.

Have a shower instead of a bath – they

use much less water

Do not leave the tap running while

you’re brushing your teeth

Repair dripping taps – they waste a

surprisingly large amount of water

Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead

of running the tap until the water is cold

HeaTing & HoT WaTer

your System

A gas fired boiler heats water that is

circulated through radiators to provide

central heating in your home. The boiler

also heats water to supply your taps, which

is stored in a cylinder until it is needed.

Because it comes straight from the mains,

you won’t have the need for any extra

pressure.

Your boiler is covered under the

manufacturer’s warranty, but you should

get it serviced once a year by a Gas Safe

registered engineer to make sure it keeps

running smoothly and safely.

A rust and frost inhibitor has been used in

your heating system, for obvious reasons. If

you need to drain your system, please make

sure you replace the inhibitor.

The controls

Boiler Thermostat

It might be necessary to set this to a

higher temperature during the winter

because of the lower temperature of

incoming water.

cylinder Thermostat

You should keep this set below 60oC -

anything higher could cause scalding.

radiator Thermostats

These are installed on most of your

radiators, and allow you to have more

control over the temperature in individual

rooms.

room Thermostat

This is usually wall-mounted in each main

room of your home, and will switch the

heating on and off to keep the room at

the chosen setting. Be careful of putting

things such as lamps too near to the

thermostat - the heat they give off could

affect its sensors.

Programmer

Your programmer lets you choose

the times that your hot water (if your

apartment has more than one bathroom)

and central heating turn on and off

throughout the day. Be aware that after

the heating has turned on, it could take

up to an hour for you to notice the effect,

especially during the winter. The longer

your heating is turned off for, the longer it

will take to warm back up.

Linden Homes Page 35

uTiLiTieS

Television

TV points have been installed in all the

principal rooms of your home, so your

TVs will never be too far from an aerial

connection.

Your home is also prewired to the

communal aerial, so you won’t need to

install one yourself. Please be aware that

to be able to receive any channels, you will

need to buy the right equipment and/or

subscribe to a package from your chosen

supplier.

Don’t forget to move your TV licence too -

you can do this online at

www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Telephone

Telephone points have been fitted in all

principal rooms of your home. Please note

that while your master socket is likely to

already be connected, your supplier might

charge you to make any other sockets live.

Suppliers

Your current suppliers are listed in the

‘Your Home’s Details’ section of your

manual, which you will be given on

completion. Of course, you’re free to

change these to any other company you

like once you’ve moved in, if you have

perhaps got a favourite supplier you would

like to stick with, or if someone else can

give you a better deal. To switch, you will

need to provide your MPAN and MPRN,

which are also in the ‘Your Home’s Details’

section. You can find more information at

www.ofgem.gov.uk

ePc

In this environment-conscious age, it’s

useful to know how well your new home

uses the energy you’re going to be paying

for. When you move in, we will give you

the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

for your home, which shows how efficient

your home is. Please keep it in a safe

place, because you will need it if you sell

your home later on. The certificate gives

two ratings:

SaP rating

The SAP rating essentially shows how

much energy your home uses in relation

to its size, and gives it a score out of 100

– 100 being excellent, and 0 being very

poor. A higher rating also means lower

running costs and less of an impact on

your bank balance!

environmental impact (ei) rating

The EI rating is also scored out of 100, and

relates to how much carbon dioxide (CO2)

your home is expected to produce each

year. A higher rating means your home

will produce less carbon dioxide emissions,

and so will have less of an impact on the

environment.

Page 36 Linden Homes

SuSTainaBLe Buying

everyday items

When buying everyday items, it’s worth

making a few small adjustments to what

and where you buy, which could mean

you have a more positive impact on the

environment. The below recommendations

will give you some guidance:

Buy food from local producers - food

that doesn’t have to travel far to

get to you means it is better for the

environment

Avoid buying disposable items, like

single-use cameras and batteries

Reuse your plastic bags, or buy a ‘bag

for life’ instead of taking new ones

Donate any unwanted items to charity

shops instead of throwing them out

Buy fruit and veg that is in season -

products that are not usually have to

travel hundreds of miles to get to you

Buy products with less packaging, or

packaging that is easier to recycle, like

cardboard or glass

White goods & appliances

Any white goods or large appliances that

you buy now have their energy efficiency

displayed on them. This is shown on a

coloured graph, similar to the EPC for your

home. The highest rating is usually A, but

for certain appliances it can go up to A+

or A++. The higher the rating, the more

energy efficient your appliance is and the

less it will cost to run.

energy Saving Light Bulbs

It is best to buy energy saving light bulbs

where you can - these fit in standard light

fittings and produce the same amount of

light, but use a quarter of the electricity.

They also last a lot longer than ordinary

ones, with the average life being around

8,000 hours.

Some of your light fittings might also be

designed to only accept energy saving

bulbs.

Linden Homes Page 37

Looking After Your Home

WindoWS

You can clean timber windows very easily

using warm soapy water, avoiding any

harsh cleaning products.

Some of your windows might have easy-

clean hinges, which let you clean both

sides of the glass from inside your home

– this is particularly useful for any windows

above ground floor level.

doorS

External doors only need an occasional

wipe down with a soft cloth and some

soapy water to make sure they don’t get

too dirty.

Internal doors are just as easy to maintain,

needing nothing more than a wipe once in

a while to remove any marks or dust that

has settled.

ironmongery

As you would imagine, your door handles,

window handles, locks and latches go

through a fair bit of wear and tear each

day, which is why all the ironmongery in

your home, both outside and inside, will

have a coat of clear lacquer to protect the

metal.

It is worth noting that this coating can

be damaged by hard objects, especially

jewellery such as rings. We also

recommend that you don’t use metal

polishes to clean your ironmongery –

instead, use soapy water and dry with a

clean cloth.

reguLar oiLing

So that your home’s hinges and handles

stay working as well as they should, and

to avoid any irritating squeaks developing,

make sure you oil them regularly.

kiTcHen

cupboards

Your cupboards are very easy to take care

of – just a wipe with a cloth dampened

with washing-up liquid solution every so

often is enough. Try and avoid getting too

much water near the joints – this can cause

them to absorb the water and swell up.

If your doors are lacquered, a bit of colour

might come off on the cloth the first time

you clean them. Don’t worry – this is

perfectly normal, and should stop after

one or two cleans.

Worktops

Below are a few simple points to help

you look after your Earthstone or granite

worktops and keep them looking as good

as new:

To clean them, all they need is a regular wipe with water and a mild detergent, then dry them with a clean cloth

Once a week, apply a thin coat of polish to the surface to prolong the finish, then wipe off any excess with a clean cloth

Always use a heat proof mat for cookware straight from the oven, hob or microwave

Always cut onto a chopping board - never directly onto the surface

You can remove light scratches or dents with a moist Scotchbrite pad

Both surfaces are resistant to staining and bacteria growth to a certain extent, but always wipe up spillages

immediately to avoid damage

Page 38 Linden Homes

appliances

Warranties

Please be aware that you might have

warranty cards for your appliances to fill

in and send back to the manufacturer(s)

to validate your warranty - booking a

service or repair under your warranty may

not be possible if you have not registered

first. You might also be able to do this

online or by phone - the contact details

are in the ‘Your Home’s Details’ section of

your manual, which you will be given on

completion.

Troubleshooting

If you find one of your appliances is not

working properly, there are a few simple

checks you can do that might mean you

don’t have to book a repair. It’s also a

good idea to read through the instruction

manual, so you will have a better idea of

what to do if something goes wrong.

Is the power switched on?

Is the plug in the socket properly?

Has an MCB on the consumer unit

tripped?

Has the fuse blown?

Is the door shut properly?

Is the inlet hose squashed, bent or

blocked?

Is it stuck in programme mode?

BaTHroom

Before cleaning your baths, showers, sinks

and taps, please make sure the product

you’re going to use is suitable to avoid

any damage. It’s best to clean all your

bathroom fittings regularly, as the longer

any dirt or limescale is left to build up, the

more difficult it will be to remove. This

especially applies to showerheads, which

can get completely blocked if the limescale

is not removed.

You also should not use any harsh or

coarse cleaning products on your fittings

– these can remove part or all of the

protective finish and damage the material

underneath.

Please avoid putting bleach blocks in your

toilet cisterns - these can damage internal

parts. Hanging a bleach freshener block

from the bowl, however, won’t cause any

problems.

Heated Towel rails

Heated rails have been fitted in your

bathrooms (and ensuites, if you have

them) so that you can warm towels.

These are heated by the hot water in

your central heating system, exactly like

your normal radiators. Please note that

they’re designed to act like radiators and

heat the rest of the room too, so if they’re

constantly covered with towels, they won’t

be able to do this as effectively.

FLoorS

carpets

It’s a very good idea to vacuum your carpet frequently to get rid of any dirt or grit, as this can cause wear and discolouration, especially if it gets really trodden in. You should blot small stains as soon as they occur, and you can buy a range of products from supermarkets to help remove them completely. For bigger or tougher stains, we suggest that you get advice from a professional carpet cleaner.

ceramic Tiles

You can clean your floor tiles really easily – all they need is a mild detergent solution and a soft cloth. Please don’t use cream cleaners or abrasive products, as these do more harm than good. It’s also essential that you repair any cracks in the grout to prevent water seeping underneath the tiles.

Vinyl Flooring

You will need to sweep your vinyl flooring regularly - dirt and grit can scratch and wear down the surface finish over time. You can clean your floor using just water and washing up liquid, but you might need something stronger for more stubborn marks. Make sure you don’t use anything abrasive to avoid scratching.

Floating Floors

Some of your floors might have a layer of felt, cork or polystyrene insulation underneath – these are known as ‘floating floors’. They are designed to give slightly as you walk over them, so please be aware that this is not a fault.

Linden Homes Page 39

Keeping Safe & Secure

Fire SaFeTy

detectors

Even though the chances of there being

a fire in your home are remote, it’s always

better to be safe than sorry. We will fit

at least one smoke alarm in your home,

so that you will always be alerted straight

away if there’s a fire. The alarm will be

powered by the mains, but there will also

be a battery as a back-up, so it will still

work if you have a power cut.

Your smoke alarm is there to save your

life, so please don’t try and dismantle it

or paint over it. It’s best to test it around

once a week to check it’s working – just

hold the ‘test’ button until the alarm

sounds. It will also benefit from a vacuum

once in a while to get rid of any dust that

might have settled on it.

Prevention

The smallest things can sometimes start a

fire, so please make sure you take note of

these points:

Make sure your smoke alarm is working

properly

Don’t overload your plug sockets

Put out candles or cigarettes properly

Use a convector heater instead of one

with a flame or element

Be extra careful when cooking with oil

Don’t store things too close to your

electrical consumer unit

If there is a fire in your home, make sure

you get everyone outside, close doors

and windows if you can, and call the fire

brigade as soon as possible. If there is

a fire in a home close to yours, you only

need to leave if smoke or heat affects your

home too.

It’s a good idea to think about your escape

routes in advance, so you can get to safety

easily. Make sure you plan at least one

alternative, and keep the keys to locked

windows within easy reach in case you

need to use them to get out.

eLecTricaL SaFeTy

In spite of its obvious usefulness,

electricity can be extremely dangerous if

it’s misused. Although we are sure you’re

already well aware of this, below are a few

pointers to help make sure nothing goes

wrong:

Have a quick check of the plugs on all

your appliances – they should have the

right fuse in and be properly earthed

Replace any cables that have split -

don’t just repair them with tape

Try not to use adaptor plugs – they can

be dangerous

Don’t stretch power cables – use an

extension lead if you have to

gaS SaFeTy

If you smell gas:

Don’t smoke or light naked flames

Don’t use electrical switches

Open any doors and windows you can

Turn your supply off using the stop

valve

Call the National Grid’s free 24 hour gas

emergency number: 0800 111 999

diy SaFeTy

We know you will want to put your stamp

on your new home and hang some pictures

on the walls, but please be careful – there

is an entire network of cables and pipes

behind them, and it could be disastrous

if you accidentally drill through one. We

suggest you use a cable detector, which

you can buy from DIY shops and larger

supermarkets, just to make sure you’re not

drilling or hammering into a pipe or cable.

Occasionally we have to use plastic pipes,

and therefore are not able to fit metal

strips to them. These won’t show up on a

cable detector, so please bear this in mind.

If you would like to hang something that is

a bit heavier, please make sure the fixing is

long enough to reach the second, stronger

layer of the wall so that it’s held in place

properly and you don’t damage your wall

in the process.

Generally, when doing DIY it’s worth

making sure none of your tools are

damaged, and you’re using any safety

equipment you need to, like a dust mask

or eye protection.

Page 40 Linden Homes

Health & Safety File

Under the Construction (Design and

Management) Regulations 2007, we have

to provide you with health and safety

information relating to your new home so

future construction projects can be carried

out safely.

This is available to view at our regional

office if you need to.

doing diy Sustainably

Follow these guidelines to make sure

your DIY projects are done in an

environmentally friendly way.

Use products from a sustainable source

wherever you can, or reuse old materials

Use flooring from natural materials, such

as cork, jute, wood or real linoleum

If you need to use synthetic materials,

get recycled ones if you can, like

recycled plastic fencing

Avoid using uPVC, MDF or paint

strippers, etc.

If you’re buying paint, opt for one with

a low VOC (volatile organic compounds)

rating, or the European Ecolabel, as

these are water or plant based and are

better for the environment

Dispose of any DIY products responsibly

– you can check with your local council

for more details

For more information, Directgov gives

advice on greener DIY:

W: www.direct.gov.uk

SecuriTy

We all like the reassurance that our home

is as secure as possible, so for your peace

of mind, the external door of your home is

fitted with multi-point bolts or five-lever

security locks.

Your home is also Secured By Design

certified, meaning it meets a certain

standard of security. If you would like a bit

more information, you can visit

www.securedbydesign.com

As you will know, your home is especially

vulnerable when you are away from it for

longer periods, so please bear in mind the

following points:

Don’t leave small, valuable items where

they can be seen, like car keys, mobile

phones or iPods

It’s also a good idea to make sure you’ve

photographed and added your details

to valuable items so they can be traced

if they’re ever stolen. You can do this

using a marker pen, or an ‘invisible’ pen

that only shows up under a special type

of lamp. You can also make a note of

their serial numbers, which are unique to

each item

Finally, make sure all your belongings

are insured against fire and theft, so

you’re not left out of pocket if the worst

does happen

You might like to look at the following

website for some more information:

www.direct.gov.uk/crime

Linden Homes Page 41

Your Home’s Details

addreSS

Your new address is:

14 Newlands Way

Cholsey

Wallingford

Oxfordshire OX10 9FF

gaS

Supplier

Scottish & Southern Energy

T: 0845 026 0658

T: 0800 111 999 (emergencies)

W: www.sse.co.uk

mPrn

7698176200

meter reading

_________________________________

date recorded

_________________________________

Shut off Valve Location

outside no.2 newlands Way

WaTer

Supplier

Thames Water

T: 0845 9200 888

T: 0845 9200 800 (emergencies)

W: www.thameswater.co.uk

meter reading

_________________________________

date recorded

_________________________________

internal Stoptap Location

under kitchen sink

external Stoptap Location

in riser cupboard in communal Hall

Landing

eLecTriciTy

Supplier

Scottish & Southern Energy

T: 0845 026 0658

T: 0800 072 7282 (emergencies)

W: www.sse.co.uk

mPan

2000055024160

meter reading

_________________________________

date recorded

_________________________________

consumer unit Location

airing cupboard

nHBc numBer

Your home’s individual NHBC policy

number is:

aL042957

Page 42 Linden Homes

inTernaL FiniSHeS

Paint

Walls Dulux Cover Matt White

Ceilings Dulux Cover Matt White

Woodwork Dulux Gloss White

doors

Internal Doors Vicaima Oak

Glazed Doors Vicaima Oak

Ironmongery Carlisle Brass Serozotta

Range Polished Chrome

Flooring

All Bedrooms Primo Plus Ecru

Kitchen Karndean Knight Tile

Onyx T88

Bathroom One Karndean Knight Tile

Balin Stone ST8

Ensuite One Karndean Knight Tile

Balin Stone ST8

kitchen

Supplier Symphony Gallery Range

Website www.symphony-group.

co.uk

Cupboards New York Gloss Ivory

Handles Integrated With The Door

Worktops Lava Earthstone

Sink Stainless Steel

Taps Blanco Prinz Chrome

BT1000CH

appliances

Oven AEG Single Built Under

B57415-5M

Hob AEG Stainless Steel Gas

HG654320NM

Extractor Electrolux EFC60001X

Fridge/Freezer Zanussi Integrated

ZBB8294

Washer/Dryer Zanussi ZK1245

Dishwasher Zanussi ZDTS102

manufacturers

AEG

T: 08445 616 616

W: www.aeg.co.uk

Electrolux

T: 08445 616 616

W: www.electrolux.co.uk

Zanussi

T: 08445 616 616

W: www.zanussi.co.uk

Bathrooms

Supplier Ideal Standard

Basin 60cm Cube Basin E7943

Basin Taps Ideal Standard Cone

Mixer B5107AA

Bath Ideal Standard

Sandringham Steel

Bath Taps Ideal Standard Cone

Bath/Shower Mixer

B5111AA

Shower Tray Mira Flight Low Profile

Shower Screen Romans Orbital Silver

Sliding Door OT1613S

Shower Ideal Standard Trevi

Ascari Thermostatic with

Moonshadow Shower Kit

WC Ideal Standard Concept

Cube E7916

ceramic Tiles

Manufacturer Saloni

Website www.saloni.com

Bathroom Cotton Blanco EC8500

Ensuite One Cotton Blanco EC8500

with Cotton Moka

Feature