Get your home winter ready

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service offer home safety visits which will provide you with free advice about staying safe in your home. To find out if you are eligible for a home safety visit their website or call 0800 0502999. Our unique Partner Agency Reference Code is 074.

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

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

More information can be found here.

E-mobility devices such as e-bikes, e-mobility scooters and e-scooters are becoming increasingly popular — they’re practical, eco-friendly, and cost-effective.

But they also come with serious safety risks, especially when it comes to lithium batteries.

In the UK, fires caused by e-mobility device batteries are rising due to neglect or misuse, and a lithium battery fire can be potentially devastating. It’s important to be vigilant.

The below steps could prevent a fire:

• Store your device inside your own flat
• Keep the device away from flammable items, heat sources, and direct sunlight
• Purchase from a reputable manufacturer that displays the CE or UKCA safety marking
• Read the instruction manual first and always use the correct charger, charging the device on a flat, solid surface
• Make sure smoke alarms are working in your home
• Report unsafe storage or charging in communal areas to your housing or leasehold team
• Don’t store or charge e-mobility devices in communal areas, corridors, stairwells or bin stores – there are vital escape routes in an emergency
• Don’t overcharge your device – unplug once fully charged and never charge overnight or while you are out
• Don’t let devices block access to fire exits or lift lobbies
• Don’t purchase unbranded or second-hand devices or batteries

It is a breach of your tenancy agreement to store or charge any e-mobility device in communal areas. This puts residents at risk, and you may face tenancy action.

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

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

Click here to learn more.

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

Wellbeing Hubs are situated in a number of areas near you, including the City Centre, Estover, Whitleigh, North Prospect, Mannamead and more. Find your nearest Wellbeing Hub.

Family Hubs offer a range of support services for families in Plymouth from pregnancy, through childhood, and up to age 19 (or 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities).

Family Hubs are situated in a number of areas near you, including Efford, West Park, Stonehouse, Plympton and more. Find your nearest Family Hub. 

Places of Welcome are run by local community groups who want everyone in their neighbourhood to have a place to go for a friendly face, a cup of tea and a conversation if and when they need it.

Each Place of Welcome is unique but all provide a place for people to connect with one another, find belonging and offer gifts and skills that interest them. Places of Welcome take place in a variety of different venues including churches, community centres, libraries, mosques, temples and other community group buildings across the UK.

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

Learn for Free is a free training programme for PCH residents, leaseholders, shared owners and household members, looking to gain a new skill or work towards a qualification.

There are a number of ways that you can get involved with PCH, through taking part in resident groups, clubs or through Make a Difference Days, which are one off days that bring local residents, staff and other organisations together to clean up neighbourhoods and talk about local issues. Click here to learn more.

The Beacon is a community hub located in the heart of the North Prospect regeneration and is open to residents, local businesses and the wider community for all to enjoy.

It hosts regular community sessions throughout the week for everyone in the local area including ‘Tea and Toast’ and ‘Hobbies and Coffees’ where attendees can get together and socialise.

It is also home to the North Prospect Library where you can find out what’s happening in the community, provides information, activities and events, as well as free access to books and computers. Find out where your local library is here.

There are a number of ways that you can get involved with PCH, through taking part in resident groups 

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

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

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

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

You can find out more about the flu jab here and opening times for Flu and Covid vaccination visits in the Plymouth area here.

Looking for ways to change your life to be healthier and happier? One You Plymouth is a free, local, friendly team within Plymouth, here to help you make those changes.

They offer support in a number of areas, including:

• Help to quit smoking
• Help to lose weight
• Help to get active 
• Falls prevention
• NHS Health Checks

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

If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This can be claimed until 31 March 2026.

Most people will receive a letter telling them how much they will get in October or November if they’re eligible, and will receive the payment automatically.

Most payments are made automatically in November or December. If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

There is other help available for heating bills:

• Cold weather payment
• Warm Home Discount

You can access support with energy bills and food with the help of funding from the Household Support Fund, provided by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Plymouth City Council is working with Citizens Advice Plymouth where individuals will receive not only financial assistance but also advice on income maximisation, managing household bills, benefits, and debt if required. Find out how to access support in Plymouth here.

If you live in Cornwall, find out how to access support here.

If you require assistance with accessing the Household Support Fund, our Income Recovery and Financial Inclusion team are here to advise you on 0800 028 0350.

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

We are continuing our ReConnect Project with PEC, where alongside general support for all, Energy Advisors are available to help our residents:

• Remain on supply or get reconnected
• Address energy debt and negotiate repayment plans with suppliers
• Access any financial support you may be eligible for

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

Email: healthandhousing@pch.co.uk Call: 01752 237 990 / 0808 230 6500

You can visit PEC at their new Energy Advice Hub at the Genesis Building on 235 Union Street. Find out more details about their opening times and where to find them here or you can call them on 01752 477117.

There are a number of community larders and foodbanks across Plymouth, which can be found on the Food Access Map. Find out where to get help with food in Cornwall here.

Plymouth Foodbank are supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. They provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.

Families with children can check if they’re eligible for free school meals.

The Plymouth Soup Run provide free food and hot drinks to hungry and vulnerable people 365 days a year. They are situated at a number of locations. Find out more.