Upon completion, a Checkmate Insurance Certificate for the Castle 10 Policy was issued. Problems with new homes are rare, however in the unlikely event that you do need this insurance, further information can be found on the Checkmate website: www.checkmate.uk.com. The warranty covers the build for 10 years, under which the developer provides cover for the first 2 years and Checkmate for the remaining 8 years.
Please note that general wear and tear and accidental damage will not be covered by your warranty.
For further information on what is included within the Checkmate Castle 10 Policy warranty, please click on the link below. Alternatively, Checkmate can be contacted on: 020 7933 2626.
The front door to the property and frame come to site as a set with the door pre-hung in the frame. The main entrance door to the property is to a full British Standard specification and is fire compliant. It is fitted with a 3-star anti snap Euro Profile Sash Lock with a thumb turn and a spy hole for security. Apartment front doors cannot be replaced without seeking advice from your Managing Agent, Centrick, as this could affect the fire integrity of your apartment.
Internal Doors
The internal doors come to site as a set with the doors pre-hung in their frames.
Front Door Ironmongery
Hinge
The door hinges are Union Power Load Hinges. Please see the product data sheet below for your reference:
The bathroom door lock is a Zoo Architectural Hardware Thumb Turn Lock. The lock is located on the inside of the door in order to lock it and has a safety release screw to unlock the door from the outside if needed.
Please see the product data sheet below for your reference:
There is an individual video intercom system within your apartment which is linked to the external intercom on the main entrance doors. This allows each resident control of visitors entering the building. To prevent any security isses, do not allow or provide access to anyone you are not familiar with.
The OSO electric hot water cylinder is located within the storage cupboard of the property.
The control panel for the hot water cylinder is also located within the storage cupboard of the property. The control panel will need to be programmed in order to set the timings to provide hot water as required.
The tank can take up to 2 hours to the water to heat up. The water temperature is set at 43 Degrees Celsius, and is not adjustable, to prevent scolding.
Any faults with the hot water cylinder or the control panel will be covered under the warranty for the property. Prior to reporting an issue, it is suggested that the control panel is checked for power and to identify if it has tripped on the fuse board in the first instance.
There are LED spotlights and pendant lights located throughout the property as follows:
LED spotlights – located in the entrance hallway, living area, bathroom and kitchen
Pendant Lighting – located in the bedroom area
Bayonet Lighting – located in the storage cupboard
Please Note: Pendant and bayonet light bulbs are not covered under warranty and it is the responsibility of the occupier to make replacements when necessary.
When changing a lightbulb please ensure the light switch is in the off position, the consumer unit switches are in the off position and that the lightbulb has cooled down before you attempt to change it.
Heating
Your apartment is fitted with wall mounted electric panel heaters. Each wall mounted heater within the apartment has a control panel which allows you to programme the heating to your specific requirements.
Please remember to turn on the spur switch for the heater, which is located on the wall next to each individual heater. If there is no power to the heater, then please check that the RCD has not tripped in the consumer unit.
Please read the instruction manual below for further details:
The bathrooms are fitted with an electric ladder style towel rail.
Please remember to turn on the spur switch for the towel heater which is located just outside of the bathroom. If there is no power to the towel heater, then please check that the RCD has not tripped in the consumer unit.
Consumer Unit (Fuse Board)
The consumer unit (fuse board) is located within the storage cupboard of the property. Your consumer unit is fitted with British Standard RCD (circuit breaker/cut out) for your safety.The RCD will shut off if there is an electrical fault within the circuit, this is a safety feature which protects you from electrocution. Each circuit is labelled on the consumer unit.
Common issues which can trip an RCD are things such as: light bulbs blowing and/or problems with appliances or electrical equipment i.e. toasters, kettles, irons, TV’s and laptops etc. To reset the fuse board, you will need to push the RCD switch back to the upwards position. If the RCD will not reset, then there is problem with one of the appliances or electrical equipment. Do not force the RCD switch back into position if there is resistance as this can cause damage to the consumer unit and can cause serious injury or death.
Some appliances (for example fridge freezer, dishwasher, washer dryer etc) are also wired to a fused spur on the wall, please ensure that the spur switch is in the on position to operate the appliance.
Please Note: It is the occupier’s responsibility to replace the fuse before reporting a fault with the product via the Report an Issue section.
Alternatively, please see the demonstration video below on how to use the consumer unit:
TV, Telephone & Internet
The property has a TV, telephone and internet point in the living area, as well as a TV point within the main bedroom (if applicable). All points are pre-wired by OFNL (Open Fibre Networks Limited) and the fibre optic infrastructure at the development is maintained and operated by OFNL who specialise in full fibre services.
There are a variety of service providers that you can choose from for your broadband and telephone services. Once you have contacted your chosen broadband provider, a wireless router will be posted to you to enable you to complete the set up in your new home. Should you encounter any problems with your broadband or telephone, then please contact your chosen service provider in the first instance. For further information, please visit www.ofnl.co.uk/residents-businesses/available-isps.
The fibre infrastructure fitted by OFNL provides Freeview TV via a communal satellite as standard, therefore you will not need to attach an additional aerial or satellite to the exterior of the building. You will be able to receive these channels by plugging your TV into an aerial point and selecting auto-tune on your television. For additional television packages, you can choose from the selection of providers listed below. Should you experience any problems with the TV signal including pixilation, please ensure your television is set up and tuned correctly in the first instance. Should this not resolve the problem, then please contact OFNL on 02921 678 550 or by visiting www.ofnl.co.uk/get-in-touch.
To set up your TV, telephone and broadband services, please select the best deal for your individual requirements by choosing one of the following service providers:
Please Note: It is the responsibility of the occupier to acquire their own television license which can be sourced by visiting www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
Fused Spur Sockets
The kitchen appliances are wired to a fused spur on the wall in the kitchen area, panel heaters have a fused spur located on the wall next to them and towel heater fused spurs are located on the wall outside of the bathroom usually in the hallway. Please ensure that the switch is in the on position for the appliances to operate.
If an appliance is not working, please first check the electrics and then check that the RCD has not tripped (please see the consumer unit demonstration video for further details). If there is power to the property and the RCD has not tripped, then please see the kitchen demonstration video on the appliances tab.
Smoke Alarm
There is a hard-wired battery back-up smoke detector within each apartment. It is strongly recommended that the occupier regularly tests the detectors by pressing the button on the device and ensure that the batteries are changed regularly to allow the detectors to work to their optimum. Smoke detectors are also located in the communal areas of the building.
If you hear the alarm, it’s important that you follow the fire evacuation procedures displayed in the property handbook and also on the noticeboards throughout the building.
Original Joinery have fitted the kitchens at One Thames Valley. The kitchen is fitted with integrated appliances which include: a microwave oven, hob, cooker hood, dishwasher, fridge freezer and a washer dryer which is located in the storage cupboard. Your appliances are covered by a manufacturer’s warranty of 2 years.
Your kitchen is fitted with light grey, matte unites and white Staron worktop.
In order to get the maximum benefit from your new kitchen, please take time to read through the following notes below on how to care for and preserve your new kitchen.
Should you discover a fire, then please dial 999 immediately to report the situation to the emergency services.
It is important that you do not panic or stop to collect belongings. Please do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself by using the extinguishers, unless you are trained to do so.
It is essential that you familiarise yourself with the fire emergency procedure for the development, including details of where extinguishers and escape routes are located. Full details relating to the emergency procedure for the development are displayed throughout the communal areas. For further details, please contact the Managing Agent, Centrick.
The lifts are located on every floor of the development on each side.
Lift doors must not be wedged open or held for any period as this can cause malfunction. Please take the appropriate precautions when transporting large and bulky items such as furniture within the lifts, in order to prevent any damages. In the event of a fire, please do not use the lifts.
If you experience issues with the lift, please contact the Managing Agent, Centrick.
In the unlikely event of an emergency please dial the emergency number using the internal lift alarm instructions. In the event of a fire please do not use the lift and descend by using the stairs.
Your property is fitted with a combination of grey wood effect laminate, tile coverings and carpet. Carpet is fitted in the bedrooms and the bathrooms are fitted with porcelain tile floor coverings.
When cleaning your laminate flooring there are a number of factors to consider. The floor is not waterproof, therefore, whilst any spills should be cleaned up quickly, nothing more than a damp cloth should be used to do this and any residue left over from cleaning up the spill should be dried off immediately. Do not use a wet mop on the laminate flooring, as this can cause water to seep into and under the laminate which will cause it to warp. Regularly remove dirt from the floor using a dry mop or a soft broom. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner on the laminate flooring, as this can cause scratches. Do not use harsh or scouring devices, as this will cause abrasion. Furniture should never be pushed or dragged across the floor, as this will cause damage.
Please see below links for further information on flooring:
No.1 Thames Valley is based in Bracknell, a large town in the county of Berkshire. The local area is home to The Lexicon, an iconic and stylish indoor and outdoor shopping centre which boasts a range of popular retail shops, restaurants and entertainment and leisure facilities.
Food and Drink
The Lexicon is located a 16-minute walk away which boasts a range of stylish cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets such as Brown Bag, Starbucks, Zizzi and Feugo. There is also a range of local pubs and bars a 10-minute drive away.
Entertainment
As well as being a short walk away from the Lexicon, where you can enjoy a movie with friends at Cineworld or a work out at the end of the day at Pure Gym, No.1 Thames Valley is located within a short driving distance to a number of popular attractions such as Go Ape, Hollywood Bowl and Coral Reef Waterworld. The popular leisure attraction, Legoland, is located an 18-minute driveway and the beautiful historic town of Windsor is only a 24-minute drive, home of Windsor Castle which is residence of the British Royal Family.
Shopping and Retail
The Lexicon has over 70 high street retailers which include the likes of Joules, Hotel Chocolat, L’Occitane en Provence and many more as well as a choice of restaurants & cafes making it the ideal central meeting place for friends, families and even colleagues.
Located a 13-minute drive away or a 14-minute work is the Peel Centre, Bracknell, a convenient shopping centre where you will find Morrisons superstore, The Range and Pizza Hut and more.
Lilly Hill Park is a Green flag awarded 23-hectacre public open space and is a 7-10 minute drive from No.1 Thames Valley. With its attractive grand views you can explore the historic parkland and formal gardens and see England’s longest picnic bench. There are many events that take place throughout the year at Lilly Hill park such as heritage park tours, orienteering events and wildlife walks.
Each property is fitted with a stopcock in the storage cupboard to fully isolate the water supply to each individual property. There is also a stopcock located outside of your apartment in the ceiling void. They are located here for the ease of being able to isolate the water supply to the individual property if the occupier is not available to allow access in the time of an emergency.
Isolation Valves
Each plumbed in fixture and fitting pipework within the property is fitted with isolation valves, meaning that you can isolate the water supply to any fitting rather than turning the water off to the whole of your property via the stopcock. The isolation valves can be found for the supplies to the toilet, washbasin, kitchen sink, washing machine and dishwasher.
There is also an isolation valve within the storage cupboard of each property which isolates the water to the whole property when turned to the off position.
Please see the below video and guidance on how to isolate the water supply to a fitting within your property.
Waste Plumbing
Waste water from your kitchen and bathroom runs through the pipework directly into the drainage system. You are responsible for the maintenance of all the fittings and waste pipes within your property.
If you find that a washbasin, sink, bath or shower is taking longer than normal to drain, then you can use a chemical drain cleaner which is readily available from all good DIY stores. Alternatively, please seek professional advice. You can prevent your sinks and plug holes from becoming blocked by regularly cleaning them.
Please refrain from putting food waste, oils or any fats into sinks, as this may cause blockages. Do not dispose of anything other than toilet tissue in the toilets. The plumbing/waste system is not designed to be able to flush items such as nappies, wipes or sanitary items etc. Flushing non-flushable items down the toilet could result in an expensive blockage for which you could be liable.
