Orbit has created a new community at Park East to replace an old and unpopular tower block estate.
Built by the same team responsible for the neighbouring Erith Park, we are building 320 homes in landscaped surrounding.
Park East includes homes for rent and sale and our aim is that everyone who lives here will love their home and be proud to call Park East home.
Orbit is the freeholder of Park East and the managing agent.
We own and manage all the rented homes.
We also own and manage the structure of the buildings and all the shared areas.
Orbit insures the structure of the building and the common areas. You need to arrange your own household contents insurance.
The cost of managing and maintaining the buildings and shared areas is shared between all households through the service charge.
Homeowners also pay an insurance charge towards the cost of insurance.
If you spot a hazard or a repair need in any of the shared areas, please let us know.
If you have a car parking space, this will have been allocated when you moved in.
If you don’t have an allocated space, you cannot park a vehicle on Park East.
Please don’t park on any spaces other than your allocated space – it will belong to someone else.
We’ll contact you when parking management goes live. You will need to register you car.
Over time we may need to change your parking allocation. This is most likely to ensure the efficient use of electric car charging points and disability spaces.
We’ll add more detail here once the parking management contract is up and running.
You can register additional cars to park in your space when your car is elsewhere. So, for example, if someone comes to clean while you are out at work or if someone stays when you are away, they can park in your space.
20% of our car parking spaces have electrical charging points. If you are planning to get an electric car and your parking space doesn’t have a charging point, contact us so that we can change your parking allocation.
You will be able to register for Podpoint and pay for your charging using their app.
Read the Pod Point charger user guide
10% of our parking spaces are suitable for people with mobility needs. If a member of your households has a disability blue badge, and your allocated space is not accessible, please contact us so that we can change your space.
Bicycles can be stored in the secure stores in the undercroft. Please let us know if you need a fob for your nearest store.
Please do lock your bike in this area.
We have limited visitor car parking. Once parking management goes live, you’ll need to register your visitors’ car details so that they can park here.
We’ll update this area with details of how to register your visitors’ details.
Two of the visitor parking spaces will have electric car charging points for general use.
We want to welcome a wide range of people to the Park East community so we’ve offered a range of ways to rent and buy here.
The homes are mixed across the development and our aim is that no-one can tell which home is rented or bought. People are valued here because of what you bring to the community, not by how you pay for your home.
These homes are offered to local households nominated by the London Borough of Bexley.
These homes are available to Londoners in working households who can’t quite yet afford to buy. They can rent for up to ten years with the option to buy, either outright or shared ownership. Priority is given to households working or living in Bexley.
Shared owners buy a percentage of their home with a mortgage and then pay a rent to Orbit on the remaining share. Over time they can buy additional shares and progress to full ownership. Priority is given to households living or working in Bexley.
Homeowners buy their homes direct from Wates. They pay a service charge to Orbit for their share of the costs of maintaining and running Park East.
Wates only sell to people planning to live here, not to landlords planning to let out properties.
If there is a fire in your apartment, your smoke alarm will sound and the sprinklers will activate.
Leave your apartment, closing the door behind you.
Do not use the lift.
Leave the building and contact the fire brigade by ringing 999 from a safe place.
If there is a fire elsewhere in the building, stay in your apartment, keeping doors closed. The buildings have been designed to prevent the spread of fire and the fire brigade advise ‘staying put.’
You have a fire and smoke detector in your apartment. If there is a fire, the alarm will activate, warning you to leave.
You have a sprinkler system. This will activate in the room where the fire is. If the fire spreads, sprinklers in other rooms will activate too.
Test your smoke detector every month by pressing the test button. It will beep once.
If your detector starts intermittent beeping you need to change the batteries. ( The detector is wired to the mains electricity but there’s a back up battery so that it works during power cuts).
Keep it clear of dust and don’t cover it.
Don’t cover or paint over your sprinkler heads. Take care if you paint your ceiling, not to get paint on the heads.
Give Orbit’s contractors access to service the sprinkler system.
Don’t store fuel and other highly flammable materials in your home or on your balcony
Barbecues and patio heaters are not permitted on balconies and terraces.
Don’t store anything on the shared landings to keep escape routes clear.
Keep your balcony clear of flammable items.
Orbit is responsible for:
Maintenance of the sprinkler system
Repair and maintenance of the apartment front doors. Please don’t repair or replace your door yourself.
Keeping escape routes clear and shared areas free of fire hazards. We inspect all the buildings regularly but please help us by telling us if you spot a problem.
Your fuse board is in the service cupboard. It’s a good idea to keep a torch next to it.
If you someone else is in your apartment while you’re out or away we recommend you tell them where to find the fuse board.
If all your electricity goes off, check the communal areas and your neighbours; if everyone has lost all power, there’s probably a power cut.
The fuse board is labelled to show which parts of your system each switch controls.
Before anyone carries out work on or near your electrical system, they need to switch off the electricity by putting the main switch down. Check the electricity is off.
If there is a problem with your electricity, one or more of the switches will trip off as a safety measure. The relevant switch(es) will be down. Usually the problem is a blown light bulb or a faulty appliance.
Your stopcock is the service cupboard in your hall. Use it to turn off your water supply if there’s an uncontainable leak in your apartment or if someone is working on the water supply. Turn it to a ‘9 o’clock’ position to cut off the water.
If you leave someone else in your home when you’re out or away, it’s a good idea to make sure they know where the stopcock is.
Check the interactive map at www.thameswater.co.uk to check if there are supply issues at Park East.
If you and your neighbours don’t have a water supply and there is no general issue in the neighbourhood, there may be a problem with the Park East water pump system. (It’s very unlikely because there’s a back up pump). Please report the problem to Orbit.
Park East heating is provided from our central heat and power system.
The system has several engines and boilers so, if there’s a problem with one, another will kick in. It’s also monitored remotely by Veolia so, if there is a problem, there should be an engineer on the way before you are aware of it.
If you do have a problem with heating, contact Veolia on 0330 175 8501 or uk.parkeast@veolia.com.
You are responsible for the safe use of your balcony. Don’t allow unsupervised children on the balcony and check that furniture or other items don’t allow them to climb above the balustrade.
If appliances were provided with your home, they have been gifted to you. Their future maintenance and replacement is your responsibility.
You will find the instruction manuals and warranty information in your information box.
Don’t forget to register for your warranties.
If you are providing your own appliances, the plumbing and electrical connections are in place ready for you to install essential items
Electric stoves need to be installed by a professional electrician. There is a control switch in the service cupboard and another in the kitchen. Both must be turned off before the stove is installed and both must be turned on for it to work.
If your home came with a cooker hood, please note that it only removes odours and grease from the air. It doesn’t vent to the outside. You also need to use the boost on your whole house ventilation system to remove stale air and steam.
The control switch is in your service cupboard. This needs to be switched on for your fridge to work.
If you wish to install a dishwasher, one of the kitchen cupboards next to the sink, is removable to provide space.
Drainage and the electricity supply are in place.
The control switch is in the hall service cupboard. This needs to be on for your dishwasher to work.
There is space for a washing machine in your service cupboard. If you buy a washer/drier, remember you need a condensing model as there is no vent to the outside.
Plumbing and an electrical supply are already in place.
You have a choice of two high speed fibre lines for your internet and telephone services.
In homes of this size, a wireless connection to a router in the service cupboard should work well throughout your home.
If you prefer, you can link either of your fibre services to one of the sockets in the service cupboard labelled ‘living room’ or ‘bedroom’. You can then install your router in either of these rooms.
Your home is provided with a Hyperoptic router already installed.
Hyperoptic are offering immediate connection and three free months of phone and broadband without obligation.
There is also a cheaper tariff for households in receipt of benefits.
If you activate this line, you can sign up with BT or any of the many providers of phone and internet who use their network.
Your chosen provider will send you a router.
There are television sockets for Freeview television services in your lounge and main bedroom
Remember you need a TV licence to watch terrestrial television, live or on demand.
You also have a SkyQ socket in the lounge. Once you have subscribed to SkyQ, this should not need further activation.
You are not permitted to install additional dishes or aerials on the exterior of the building, your balcony or terrace.
Your electricity supplier is E.ON. You need to register for an account with them. Or, if you prefer, you can choose another provider and transfer the account.
You will have been given the meter reading when you moved in. The meter is in a locked cupboard in the shared hallway* and is read remotely. If you need do need access to your meter, please let us know.
(*except three-bedroom, two-storey homes that have an external meter cupboard)
Your water supplier is Thames Water. You need to register for an account with them. Or, if you prefer, you can choose another provider and transfer the account.
You will have been given the meter reading when you moved in. The meter is in a locked cupboard in the shared hallway * and is read remotely. If you need do need access to your meter, please let us know.
(*except three-bedroom, two-storey homes that have an external meter cupboard)
There is no gas to the individual apartments, just to the Combined Heat and Power energy centre.
We inspected your home before you moved in to ensure it meets our high build standards.
Sometimes problems arise later as the building dries out and as you start using the services. We call problems arising from faulty workmanship or materials ‘defects’.
Wates, who built Erith Park, will put right any defects during the first two years after your homes was completed. If you’re not sure if an issue is a defect or not, do talk to your aftercare team.
Our aftercare services do not deal with issues due to alterations, poor maintenance, accidental or wilful damage, or wear and tear.
After two years, your home is covered for major build defects for a further period by an NHBC warranty.
The total warranty period is ten years if you bought you home from Wates, twelve if you bought or rent from Orbit.
If you’ve bought your home, you need to register with NHBC. If you don’t you may have a problem if you need to claim or you sell your home within the warranty period. You’ll find the paperwork in your welcome pack.
If you rent from Orbit, Orbit holds the NHBC guarantee.
8am – 5pm Mon – Fri
Out of hours emergencies: 0208 267 7845
0800 145 6838 8.30 – 5.30pm Mon – Fri
Out of hours emergencies: 0330 124 2788
0800 678 1221 or info@orbit.org.uk
8.30 – 5.30pm Mon – Fri
Out of hours emergencies: 0330 124 2788
Use out of hours contacts for emergencies including:
Fine cracks, like pencil lines, are normal on new properties. Usually these are not defects and you can be filled when you decorate.
Cracks wide enough to fit a pound coin require investigation so please contact your aftercare team.
We advise you not to decorate with oil or silk-based paints during the first year as this may mask cracking.
When you do decorate, we recommend keeping spare paint or wallpaper to make good in the event of repairs. Your aftercare guarantee does not include making good decoration.
This section deals with responsibility for items which are not covered by your aftercare warranty.
Orbit are responsible for most repairs to your home and the shared areas.
See your customer handbook for your repairing and maintenance responsibilities.
Orbit are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the structure of the building.
You are responsible for repairs within your apartment with the exception of:
Orbit are responsible for all repairs to the shared internal areas. This includes:
The MHVR is in your service cupboard.
This unit ensures you have a constant flow of clean fresh air into your apartment. The outgoing stale air warms the incoming air, so it saves on your heating bills too.
It’s important to leave this unit switched on all the time. If it’s turned off, you may have problems with damp and mould.
When you turn on your bathroom light, the system automatically boosts to remove damp air from the bathroom.
There’s also a boost switch in the kitchen to use for rapid removal of cooking smells and steam.
Maintenance of the MHVR is your responsibility.
The filters will need cleaning approximately every six months. A light on the unit will flash to let you know this needs doing.
Remove and vacuum the filters then replace.
If they are heavily soiled, you can wash with a gentle detergent. Dry thoroughly before replacing.
Replacement filters can be bought online.
The communal heating system brings heat to the Heat Exchange Unit (HIU) in your service cupboard where it heats both the hot water and radiator within your apartment.
All maintenance and repairs on the HIU are carried out by Veolia, who will service it every two years
Please do not allow your own plumber to interfere with it.
Veolia: 0330 1758 501
uk.parkeast@veolia.com
If you want to save money or reduce your impact on climate change, find the lowest temperature which is comfortable for you.
This unit in your service cupboard allows you to set heating to:
We’ve preset it to suggested timings but you can adjust using the manual.
If you go away during the winter, we suggest you leave your heating on, but turn the thermostat down to about 15 degrees.
Valves on each radiator enable you to control individual rooms. This is useful if, for example, you want the bedroom at a lower temperature to the living area.
Your bath has a blending valve. This is a safety feature to prevent scalding and is sealed behind the bath panel.
The taps in your kitchen and bathroom sinks have low flow fittings to help reduce your water bills and our impact on the environment.
If flow through the taps is decreasing, the most likely problem is a build up of limescale. The filter can be removed with a spanner and cleaned by soaking in vinegar or a proprietary limescale remover.
Under each sink you’ll find valves to shut off the supply to the taps. These are useful if you ever need to replace or repair the taps.
Some windows can be cleaned from your balcony or terrace
Almost all other windows can be cleaned by releasing the restrictor and reversing the pane, allowing you to clean from the inside. The fixed pane below can be cleaned by a squeegee on a stick. Do not lean out.
Don’t forget to replace the restrictor when you have finished. Never release the restrictor when there are children in the room.
Ground floor windows and a few first floor windows are not reversible for security reasons. These can be cleaned from outside. You or your window cleaner will need an extendable pole to clean the first floor windows.
If your window or patio door handles and hinges are stiff, apply a small amount of lubricant spray.
Replacing keys for your apartment front door is your responsibility.
We supply two fobs which are programmed to give access to your front door and your landing.
If you have car parking in a secure area, the same fob will give access to the car parking area.
If you have requested access to the bike store, this will also be activated on your fob.
Additional or replacement fobs can be ordered from Orbit for a small charge.
We recommend you make a note of the number of your post box key in case you need to order a replacement. Replacement keys can be ordered on 01639 633 525.
If you don’t have the key number, contact Orbit.
The door entry handset in your hallway lets you see visitors and speak to them before you let them into the building. Once they get to your landing, they will ring again so you can buzz them through.
Most drain blockages can be avoided by ensuring that only appropriate items are disposed of.
Only poo, pee and paper should be flushed down the toilet.
Avoid tipping hot fat down the kitchen sink. Let it cool, pour into an old container and dispose of in the general rubbish.
Showers drains can be clogged by a build-up of hair and soap. Pull out the drain unit to clean.
If sinks aren’t draining, use a proprietary drain cleaner.
You can also find many on line videos to help you:
Your surfaces and cupboard doors can be cleaned with warm soapy water or a mild cleaner.
Avoid using abrasive or bleach-based products which can damage surfaces.
Always use a chopping board, rather than chopping directly on the work surfaces.
Use a trivet to protect your work surfaces from hot pans.
There are lots of sustainable travel choices for residents of Park East. Now, more than ever, we need to consider how and when we travel and whether we need to travel. We need to make the right travel choices for our health and wellbeing and everyone in our community.
The Transport for London journey planner is a useful resource to plan the most efficient journey on foot, bicycle or by public transport.
Your home is fitted with a choice of high speed fibre broadband connections. If you can work from home, you can reduce your need to travel.
Car sharing is when two or more people travel together by car for all or part of a journey.
You can car share for regular commuting or one-off trips Passengers will usually make a contribution to fuel and parking costs.
Most car sharing is organised between friends and neighbours. Neighbourhood forums like Nextdoor are also good ways to find car share partners.
There are also dedicated websites such as Liftshare.
Walking is great exercise and, best of all, it’s free!
Park East is within a 15 minute walk of Erith town centre, and Erith and Slade Green railway stations.
There are both primary and secondary schools within walking distance. Walking to school benefits children’s health and independence skills. It’s worth bearing in mind when choosing a school.
Regular walking can reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, tone up muscles and strengthen bones. It’s excellent for losing weight or simply improving fitness levels through low impact and low intensity exercise.
Walking apps let you monitor your steps, calorie count and carbon saving and can help to keep you motivated.
|
|
Distance (metres) |
Walking time (minutes) |
Cycling Time (minutes) |
|
Public Transport |
|||
|
Dell View Road Bus Stop on A206 Northbound |
190 |
3 |
1 |
|
Dell View Road Bus Stop on A206 Southbound |
215 |
3 |
1 |
|
Slade Green Train Station |
1,200 |
15 |
4 |
|
Erith Train Station |
1,200 |
15 |
4 |
|
Education |
|||
|
Peareswood Primary School |
330 |
4 |
1 |
|
Erith Library |
880 |
11 |
3 |
|
St Paul’s (Slade Green) Primary School |
950 |
12 |
3 |
|
Woodside (special needs) School |
1,100 |
14 |
4 |
|
Slade Green and Howbury Community Centre and Library |
1,100 |
14 |
4 |
|
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Crayford Temple Grove North Campus |
1,200 |
15 |
4 |
|
Erith (mainstream secondary) School |
1,800 |
23 |
6 |
|
London South East College’s Bexley campus |
2,200 |
28 |
7 |
|
Employment |
|||
|
Erith Town Hall and Council Offices |
1,000 |
13 |
4 |
|
Health |
|||
|
Erith Leisure Centre |
500 |
6 |
2 |
|
Slade Green Medical Centre |
925 |
12 |
3 |
|
Energie Fitness Erith |
935 |
12 |
3 |
|
Colyers Lane Medical Centre |
1,065 |
13 |
4 |
|
Erith and District Hospital |
1,750 |
22 |
6 |
|
Leisure |
|||
|
-Food and Drink |
|||
|
Beijing Chinese Takeaway |
750 |
9 |
3 |
|
Afishionados (fish shop) |
750 |
9 |
3 |
|
McDonalds |
780 |
10 |
3 |
|
KFC |
860 |
11 |
3 |
|
The Corner Pin (pub) |
1,050 |
14 |
4 |
|
The Bakers |
1,315 |
16 |
4 |
|
-Other |
|||
|
Erith Playhouse (theatre) |
1,175 |
14 |
4 |
|
Colyers Lane Barbers |
1,320 |
16 |
4 |
|
Shopping |
|||
|
Tesco Express |
115 |
2 |
1 |
|
Simba Convenience Store |
290 |
3 |
1 |
|
Shell Petrol Station |
850 |
11 |
3 |
|
Morrisons Petrol Station |
990 |
12 |
4 |
|
Erith Riverside Shopping Centre |
1,050 |
14 |
4 |
|
Morrisons Supermarket |
1,075 |
13 |
4 |
|
Erith Post Office |
1,140 |
14 |
4 |
The main bus servicing Park East is the 428, running between Erith Town Centre and Bluewater.
A short work to Colyers Lane, takes you to stops for the 89 bus, linking Slade Green and Lewisham. The N89 is a night bus to and from Central London.
From the river front in Erith you can pick up Cycling Route 1 for a scenic and safe route into central London.
In the other direction, the same route lets you explore the wetlands of Dartford marshes and on into North Kent.
The Transport for London journey planner is the best tool for planning your cycle journeys around London.
If you’re new to cycling or haven’t cycled for a while, Bexley Council offers free road safety cycle skills training for both adults and children living in the borough.
Erith and Slade Green Stations are both about fifteen minutes walk or a four minute cycle ride. Both stations have covered cycle stands.
Erith is the nearer station to London. Services are approximately every ten minutes during the working day. Trains stop at London Bridge, Waterloo and Cannon Street. Journey time to London Bridge is 35 minutes.
We want Park East to be a friendly community where neighbours support each other and show consideration.
When you moved to Park East you signed a lease or tenancy agreement which required you to maintain the safety and security of the building and show consideration to your neighbours.
It’s a good idea to introduce yourself to your neighbours and get to know them a little. If you do, it’s much more likely you can talk to them if there’s a problem. If your lifestyle is having an impact on your neighbour, they too may feel more comfortable in telling you.
Often we can be unaware of the impact of our activities on our neighbours and a friendly approach can be the best way to tackle issues quickly and informally.
If you can’t resolve an issue and it is serious or persists, read our information on reporting anti-social behaviour.
Here’s a few tips which are specific to living in apartments like Park East:
Park East is designed to Secure by Design standards. We work with the police to improve security and minimise opportunities for crime.
This includes:
As a result of measures like these, on nearby Erith Park, we reduced crime to just 20% of the surrounding roads.
Help to keep Park East safe by following these guidelines:
