Maintenance

Internal Maintenance

Many moving parts in your home, such as window hinges and door mechanisms, need lubricating regularly to keep them working properly.

Front Entrance Door

The Building Safety Act is new legislation introduced by Government to ensure high-rise residential buildings are designed, built and managed to the highest standards of safety. This includes clear obligations for residents, the Managing Agent, and the building owner.

As a resident, you have important responsibilities:

• Keeping communal areas clear of any items or obstructions
• Allowing access for statutory inspections and maintenance, including annual fire door inspections
• Maintaining your apartment entrance door so that it remains in good working order and compliant with fire safety standards

Your apartment entrance door is a critical part of the building’s fire strategy. It is designed to resist fire and smoke, but like any piece of equipment, it requires routine maintenance. Hinges, closers, seals and ironmongery can wear over time and need adjustment or replacement. Small gaps around the door are also necessary for it to operate correctly, but if gaps become too wide, the fire and smoke resistance may be compromised.

Please note that timber doors are natural products and may expand or contract with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity. This can affect the way the door fits in its frame and may require adjustment to keep it performing correctly.

The Managing Agent will arrange for annual fire door inspections in line with the Building Safety Act. These inspections will confirm that your door is in good repair and working order. Please note:

• Not all issues identified are construction defects. Many items are simply the result of day-to-day wear and tear and fall under routine maintenance
• The two-year warranty does not cover maintenance
• If a genuine defect is identified, please report it to St James/St William Customer Services

By working together, we can ensure that your home, and the building as a whole, remains safe for you and your neighbours.

Carpets

• Regularly vacuum your carpet to remove any dirt or grit
• Treat any small spot stains immediately, blotting and not rubbing
• For any large or persistent stains, you should contact a professional carpet cleaner

Ceramic Floor Tiles

• You can clean your ceramic floor tiles using a soft cloth and a suitable cleaning product
• You should not use cream cleaners or anything abrasive that could damage your tiles

Luxury Vinyl Tiles Flooring

• Hoover or sweep your floor regularly, as loose dirt and grit can scratch it
• You can clean it with a moist cloth and mild cleaning product
• You can use felt pads or castor cups to protect your floor from furniture legs
• Try not to drag heavy items of furniture across your floor, as this can scratch it

Ironmongery

• You can buff door and window furniture with a dry, soft cloth
• They can be cleaned with warm, soapy water and dried
• Avoid abrasive cleaning solutions and cloths

Kitchen

High Gloss Kitchen Doors and Drawers

• Steam can damage your kitchen units, so bear this in mind when using kettles, coffee machines, etc.
• You should wipe off splashes quickly using a soft cloth and warm soapy water or a glass cleaner; abrasive or strong cleaning products should not be used
• More detailed information on how to care for your kitchen can be found in your accompanying box file. Your kitchen is guaranteed by the manufacturer; however, this is dependent on following the above recommendations

Worktops

• Your worktops are laminate, which can be cleaned with a mild cleaning product and damp cloth
• Always use chopping boards and pan stands
• Don’t place hot objects on or allow water to get into the worktop joints as this could weaken them
• Don’t use any polish or bleach

Sanitaryware

It is important to use the right products to clean your sanitaryware to avoid any damage. When in use, bathrooms should be well ventilated to prevent condensation.

Baths/Basins

• You should clean your baths regularly with a cream cleaner and sponge
• You can use limescale removers but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Avoid using cleaning products that might leave a residue, as they could make the surface slippery
• Regularly check the sealant around the bath is intact

Showers

• Wiping down screens and enclosures after each use helps prevent limescale
• Regularly use a diluted white vinegar solution or a specialised branded cleaner to stop limescale build up on shower screens, trays and enclosures
• Avoid using cleaning products that might leave a residue, as they could make the surface slippery
• Regularly check the sealant around the shower is intact

Taps

• You should regularly clean your taps with a branded cleaner and a clean cloth
• You should not use harsh cleaners on taps because they’re likely to scratch the surface

Showerheads

• You should descale your showerheads every month to remove any limescale which can block spray holes

Toilets

• You should not put bleach blocks into your toilet cisterns, as they can damage the flushing mechanism

Points to Note Inside Your Home

• Don’t begin any major structural work on your home without first getting advice from a qualified tradesperson and relevant permission from the managing agent
• Take extra care if you choose to hang pictures, etc., from ceilings or walls. Cables and pipes are generally found immediately behind wall and ceiling surfaces. You can buy detectors at most DIY stores which will help you locate cables/pipes before you disturb the surface finish. Electric cables are generally located running vertically above/below electric sockets and switches
• The internal walls in your home are made of plasterboard, which is strong enough to take the weight of most pictures and other light objects using picture hooks or nails. Heavier objects will need stronger fittings and most DIY stores should be able to advise you on the best fitting to use
• Your window frames should be cleaned with soapy water and a soft cloth, then dried
• When carrying out any decoration in close proximity to the sprinkler heads, you should arrange for the Concierge to temporarily switch off the system. Once the decoration is complete, please make sure you ask the Concierge to switch the sprinkler system to your home back on
• The FCU and fan coil units have a warranty and must be serviced periodically, which will be arranged either by Pira or the ESCo provider. Residents are not required or permitted to service the equipment themselves
• The HIU and pumps are located in your utility cupboard. Regular maintenance is required to maintain the efficiency of the heating and hot water within your apartment

External Maintenance

• uPVC window frames should be cleaned with soapy water and a soft cloth and then dried. At the same time, make sure drainage channels are clear
• Regularly sweep your balcony and reseal it annually with a suitable product available from most DIY stores

Points to Note Outside Your Home

• Don’t cover damp proof courses or air bricks