Guides
Advice on getting your home ready, and news that affects UK households.
Start here · Advice
Where is my stopcock? How to find your stop tap and turn off water, gas and electricity
Find your stop tap, gas valve and main electricity switch on an ordinary day, so you know where they are if a pipe bursts, you smell gas or flooding is on the way.
Read the guideLatest
Advice · 24 Oct 2026ICE and Medical ID: put emergency contacts on your phone’s lock screenAdd emergency contacts and key medical details to your phone's lock screen, think about what to leave out, and tell the people you choose.
News · 22 Oct 2026Be Ready: what the government’s new three-day advice asks your household to doThe government's new Be Ready campaign asks households to be ready for three days. What's on the checklist, the five steps it sets out, and how to start with what you already have.Advice · 22 Oct 2026Severe drought in parts of the South West and South East: what it means at homeParts of the South West and South East are in severe drought, but household supplies stay on. What the hosepipe and non-essential use bans cover, why rain won't end it quickly, and three things to do.
Advice · 20 Oct 2026The Priority Services Register: who can join, and how to sign up before winterThe free Priority Services Register gives extra help when the power, gas or water goes off. Who can join, who to tell, and why to check again after switching.
Advice · 16 Oct 2026How to make a flood plan: check your flood risk and sign up for warningsThree free jobs for UK households: check your flood risk, sign up for flood warnings and write a simple flood plan.
Advice · 14 Oct 2026Teaching children the emergency basics: 999, their address and a grown-up’s numberHelp children learn when to call 999, their home address and a grown-up's phone number, then practise little and often.
Advice · 10 Oct 2026Smoke alarm beeping or chirping? What it means and what to doA chirp every 30 to 60 seconds usually means a low battery. What each beep means, how to stop it safely, and how to test your alarms.
Advice · 7 Oct 2026Start with what you already own: a ten-minute household checkBefore buying anything, find what you already have, check it works and make sure everyone knows where it is.Advice · 30 Sep 2026UK government emergency kit list: what Be Ready suggests keeping at homeThe emergency kit list from the government's Be Ready campaign, covering food, water, power, communications, medication, children, pets and accessibility needs.News · 24 Sep 2026Scotland is launching a £5 million community flood resilience fund: what households should knowScotland is creating a new £5 million Community Flood Resilience Fund. Here is what it means for households, community groups and flood-prone areas.
Advice · 20 Sep 2026What to do in a power cut, and what to have readyWhat to do when the power goes off, and the four things to have ready: light, warmth, a radio and a charged phone.
Advice · 20 Sep 2026How much water to store per personThree litres a day for three days, and how to store it.
Advice · 20 Sep 2026What to put in an emergency kit in the UKA short list built from UK Government guidance.Find out when it’s available
KITHELD is in development for iPhone and Android. The checklist and guides on this site are free to use now.
You're on the list
We'll email you when KITHELD is available. In the meantime, our guide to storing water might be useful.
How much water to store