Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Local Facilities
Q:What facilities are available in Tean Village?
A: Tean Village has a Doctors Surgery, Chemist, Post Office, Co-op, Bake Shop, Greatwood Community Centre, Catholic, Church of England and Methodist Churches and three Public Houses.
Q: Where is the closest Town?
A: Cheadle is 2.5 miles away and Uttoxeter 8 miles away, both have buses running every hour. For City Centre Shopping, Hanley in Stoke on Trent is 11 miles away and buses run via Cheadle every hour.
Porters View
Q: Do we have Gas?
A: No, all our Bungalows are powered by electricity. Numbers 3, 4 and 5 also have solar power.
Q: Do the Bungalows have TV aerials included?
A: Yes, all our bungalows have terrestrial aerials for standard TV, Freeview, digital radio (DAB) and FM radio, fed directly into the lounge and bedroom. They also have a link between the bedroom and lounge so you can playback in one and watch in another.
Q: Am I able to receive Satellite TV?
A: Yes, all our bungalows have four satellite feeds two in the lounge and two in the bedroom, to facilitate the latest Sky equipment and Freesat if required.
Q: Do I have a burglar alarm?
A: No, there are no burglar alarms fitted. Porters View is a private development with one entrance and is completely covered by CCTV, with five cameras covering the site and all front doors. The system records all cameras 24 hours per day and the camera output is also available on your TV, Channel 800.
Q: Do I have smoke alarms?
A: Yes, all our bungalows have mains powered smoke alarms and heat alarms in the kitchen, lounge and bedroom. They also have emergency lighting in the kitchen, lounge and bathroom in the event of a power cut. They have a backup battery, which is replaced by our maintenance staff as a part of the regular maintenance program.
Q: Are there any additional storage areas?
A: Yes, external storage is available for a small amount of garden tools etc. Internally the lofts are boarded and load bearing. We ask that you are careful using the loft ladders and follow the instructions provided.
Q: Do we have washing lines?
A: Yes, rotary washing lines are situated around the site available for all to use. If you require pegs they are available in the communal drying room.
Q: Why do we have communal drying room facilities?
A: The bungalows are incredibly energy efficient and as such don't have drafts you would normally find in other properties. As a result, if you are drying clothes over a maid with no windows open, the water from the clothes has no means of escape and will result in damp over time. We request that you leave the trickle vents on the windows open at all times and use the washing lines or drying facilities to dry your main wash items.
Q: How do the communal drying room facilities work?
A: The dryer works on a token meter and is free of charge to residents. Tokens are available from the property manager.
Q: What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
A: An EPC rating is a review of a property's energy efficiency. An EPC assessor carries out a survey of each bungalow before producing the EPC. The bungalow is then placed on a colour-coded scale from A to G, A being the most efficient with the cheapest fuel bills.
Q: Why are 3, 4 and 5 rated A?
A: This is all down to the design and the quality of the build. New properties typically achieve a B, which is a score of 81 to 91 on the EPC scale. Government figures show less than 0.9% of properties score A (above 92). Bungalows 3, 4 and 5 all score between 98 and 99 which is very high (no statistics are available for these scores).
Q: How do the Solar Panels Work?
A: Solar panels take light from the sun and convert it into electricity. This electricity is fed into the bungalows electrical system, which can be used instead of drawing electricity from the National Grid (through the meter). Any surplus electricity produced by the panels and not used in the bungalow is directed to the two immersion heaters in the hot water tank. Only when the water tank is at full temperature is any surplus fed back into the National Grid.
Q: How much money will I save with the solar panels?
A: We don't yet know. It is a combination of solar power and the quality of the bungalow's energy efficiency, that will reduce energy bills. Bungalows 3, 4, and 5 have a very high energy efficiency, which is linked to the solar power and the diversion of any surplus electricity to water heating will reduce electricity use considerably. Smart meters are installed and we are working with existing tenants, to make more data available.
Activities
Q: What activities are there in Tean?
A: Greatwood Hall Community Centre is opposite the Church and Primary School in the village and have a large range of activities, a social club and book exchange, please see their website at www.greatwoodhall.org.uk. The churches in the village also have halls which hold regular coffee mornings and other activities.
Q: I enjoy gardening. Is there somewhere I could garden?
A: Yes, we have extensive gardens both to the front and rear of the bungalows, as well as waist high planters for those who prefer not to bend or kneel. Our gardeners are on site every week and will help with digging, planting and advice if required.
Q: I have pots and plants at my current home that I would like to bring with me. Would this be OK?
A: Yes, every bungalow has its own seating area where pots could be accommodated along with shrubs etc. if you wish to plant them.
Q: Do we have a greenhouse?
A: Not at the moment, however, we are considering constructing a greenhouse in the near future for all to use, should they wish.
Q: I like DIY. Is there a workshop available for me to use?
A: Not at the moment, however, we do have an area where one could be constructed for communal use, if it is requested.
Tenant Criteria
Q: Are there any eligibility criteria to become a resident on Porter's View?
A: Yes. As part of the planning process the local authority provided some eligibilty criteria around age and mobility. If you wish to discuss these in more detail, please call Siȃn on 07594 983567, who will be happy to discuss this with you.
Property Management
Q: What does the Property Manager do?
A: The Property Manager is responsible for all the day to day running of the site and the facilities. In the event of a problem the Property Manager is authorised to engage the services of tradesmen, maintenance staff etc. The Property Manager is also responsible for all the tenancy agreements and communication with the tenants.
Q: How do I get in touch with the Property Manager?
A: You will be given a contact number available 9.00am - 5.00pm Mon - Fri. In addition the Property Manager will be on site at least once per week to answer questions.
Q: Do we have a maintenance schedule?
A: Yes, there is a maintenance schedule for all internal and external maintenance. In addition to the schedule any issues should be reported to the site manager.
Q: Do we have a window cleaner?
A: Yes the window cleaner comes monthly to clean all external windows and is paid by PV Housing.
Q: How often do the gardeners visit?
A: The gardeners will visit every week during the Summer and every other week during the Winter.
Q: Am I allowed pets?
A: No, as our gardens are communal we do not allow pets. However, we do make an exception for Guide Dogs and Registered Medical Assistance Alert Dogs. Wherever possible we would encourage these to be walked off site. It is not acceptable for dogs to wander the site and we will provide a spending area for the dogs to relieve themselves away from other properties should the need arise.
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