Domestic Matters

• For help with home security, view this checklist. If you are planning to go on holiday, make sure you consider the following steps so your property is not vulnerable to theft
• Property owners looking to reduce their bills by improving energy performance should consider using this heat loss calculator
• Your property's carbon dioxide emissions can also be checked using this calculator
• If your property has more bedrooms than people or an equal match, you might be able to cut costs by switching to a water meter. Use this water calculator to estimate whether you would save money on your water bills by switching to a meter.

                Consumer Issues

• The Office of Fair Trading is the UK government's principle regulatory body for promoting and proteting consumer interests. In seeking to ensure businesses offer fair and competitive services, the OFT website often offers advice and resources for consumers wishing to challenge issues. For a selection of OFT publications visit here
• Officials from The Trading Standards Institute also seek to uphold consumer interests by inspecting businesses to ensure they are safeguarding as far as appropriate the economic, environmental, health and social wellbeing of consumers. Consumer and business advice from the TSI is available here
• Consumer Direct is a national body which offers advice whether you are buying goods or have recently purchased a faulty product.
• A checklist on how to make a complaint, which includes organisations that may be able to provide assistance, is available here