↓ Skip to main content
Skelton Gate Community
Skelton Gate Community

Welcome Pack

Essential information for new residents moving to Skelton Gate

Welcome to Skelton Gate!
#

We’re delighted to welcome you to the Skelton Gate community. This guide will help you settle into your new home and discover everything our estate has to offer.

Before You Move
#

It’s worth doing these a couple of weeks before your moving date, as they can take time to process:

  1. Check Royal Mail has your address — Use the Royal Mail postcode finder to confirm your house number is listed. If it’s missing, submit an address update so mail reaches you from day one.

  2. Set up a mail redirection — If you’re moving from an existing address, set up a Royal Mail redirection to forward post from your old address. This is especially useful in the weeks after moving before all your contacts have been updated. Note that if your address wasn’t previously listed (see point 1), you may need to wait a few days after submitting it before Royal Mail’s systems recognise it for a redirection.

  3. Register for bin collections — Check whether your address appears on the Leeds bin day checker. If your house number isn’t listed, submit it via the Leeds cannot find your address form. Leeds City Council will reply to confirm your address has been added, copying in bin.deliveries@leeds.gov.uk who will then confirm you’ve been added to the collection route.

  4. Order broadband in advance — Installations typically take one to two weeks, so booking early means you won’t be without internet on moving day. See our Broadband Providers page for full-fibre (FTTP) options available at Skelton Gate.

  5. Sort your home insurance — Notify your existing insurer of your new address, or take out a new policy starting from your moving date and cancel the old one accordingly.

  6. Notify your energy provider — Let your current supplier know you’re moving, and take meter readings at your old address on moving day. It’s also worth submitting opening readings for your new property (though your builder may have already done this).

  7. Register for Council Tax — Register or update your address with Leeds City Council for your new home. If you’re moving from elsewhere in Leeds this is just an address change; if you’re moving from outside the Leeds City Council area you’ll also need to cancel your old account with your previous council. New builds often aren’t banded straight away — it can take 6–12 months, and the first bill is then backdated to your move-in date, so set aside the expected monthly amount from day one (our Council Tax Bands page shows what identical homes pay).

Getting Started
#

Your First Week
#

When you first move in, here are the essential tasks to complete:

  1. Note your builder’s customer service contact - Your builder is the first point of contact for snagging, defects, and warranty issues
  2. Meet Your Neighbours - Introduce yourself and join the community

Updating Your Address
#

Don’t forget to update your address with the following:

  • Bank accounts — Update with each bank and credit card provider

  • Driving licence — Update via DVLA (there’s a fine for not keeping it current)

  • Car insurance — Your policy is tied to your address; notify your insurer to avoid invalidating cover

  • Vehicle V5C (logbook) — Update the registered address with DVLA via GOV.UK

  • Employer / payroll — So your P60 and any correspondence reaches you

  • HMRC — Update via your personal tax account

  • Online shopping accounts — Amazon, eBay, and any other sites with a saved delivery address

  • Subscriptions & memberships — Streaming services, magazines, gym, loyalty cards, etc.

  • GP and dentist — Register with a local practice or update your address (see our Healthcare page)

  • Electoral roll — Register to vote at your new address

Property Information
#

  • Builder’s 2-year warranty — Your builder covers defects, snagging, and home emergency issues (boiler, plumbing, electrics) for the first two years. Report issues to their customer services team.
  • NHBC Buildmark 10-year warranty — All new homes registered with the NHBC carry a 10-year Buildmark warranty. The first two years overlap with the builder’s own warranty; from years 3–10 the NHBC covers structural defects directly. Keep your Buildmark policy documents safe. More information at nhbc.co.uk.
  • Home Emergency Cover — Not needed during the builder’s warranty period; worth arranging your own once that expires.
  • Building Insurance: Usually included in service charges for apartments; homeowners should arrange their own

Post-Move-In Builder Visit
#

Your builder should arrange a home visit a week or two after you move in to check everything is in order and answer any questions. This gives you time to have actually used the house and notice any issues before the visit.

  • Log issues as you find them — keep a list as you go rather than trying to remember everything on the day
  • Take photos — photograph any defects; you can show these at the visit or submit them afterwards
  • Use everything — try all the taps, windows, doors, appliances, heating zones, and electrics so you’re not discovering problems after the visit
  • Ask questions — it’s a good opportunity to understand how things like the heating system, ventilation, and stopcock work
  • Follow up in writing — after the visit, report any outstanding issues to your builder’s customer services so there’s a paper trail (Avant: CustomerServices.NorthYorkshire@avanthomes.co.uk)

Normal New-Build Quirks
#

New builds behave differently from older properties in the first year or two. The following are all normal and not cause for alarm:

  • Shrinkage cracks — As the structure dries out and settles, small cracks commonly appear in plasterwork, around door frames, and at wall/ceiling joints. These are cosmetic and your builder should touch them up as part of the warranty — log them and report at your post-move-in visit or in writing.
  • Condensation — New builds contain a lot of moisture from the construction process that takes time to dry out. Good ventilation (opening windows regularly, using extractor fans) helps manage this in the first year.
  • Stiff doors and windows — Timber can swell slightly with humidity; doors and windows that stick in the first year often settle on their own, but can be adjusted under warranty if needed.

Essential Contacts
#

Management & Maintenance
#

There is currently no estate management company — this is expected to be established once phase 2 of the development is complete. In the meantime, direct maintenance and estate queries to your builder’s customer services.

Builder Information
#

  • Avant Homes Customer Services: CustomerServices.NorthYorkshire@avanthomes.co.uk — for snagging, warranty, and after-sales issues
  • Other developers on the estate likely have equivalent customer service contacts — check your handover documents

Utilities
#

  • Electricity: Multiple suppliers available - compare prices
  • Gas: Check gas connection status
  • Water (Avant): Independent Water Networks (02920 028711)
  • Water (Evans): Last Mile Water (0333 000 0113)
  • Water (Countryside): Yorkshire Water (0800 573 553)
  • Broadband: See our Broadband Providers page for FTTP options

Council Services
#

Utilities Setup
#

Electricity & Gas
#

Your property will have smart meters installed. You’ll need to:

  1. Take opening meter readings on your move-in date
  2. Choose an energy supplier (or stick with the current one)
  3. Set up a direct debit or payment plan
  4. Consider fixed-rate tariffs to avoid price fluctuations

Water
#

Water on the estate is supplied by independent network operators — your provider depends on which developer built your home.

  • No need to choose a supplier — your provider is determined by your property
  • You will need to register with your provider — contact them to set up your account after moving in
  • Water meters are installed in all properties
  • Payment plans available

Broadband
#

Skelton Gate has access to full-fibre broadband (FTTP):

  • Check our Broadband Providers page for options
  • Multiple providers offer gigabit speeds
  • Installation typically takes 1-2 weeks
  • Consider booking before you move in

TV & Phone
#

  • Freeview: Unless you opted to have a TV aerial installed during the build, you’ll likely have an aerial socket in the living room with a cable run to the loft space, ready to connect to an aerial — you’ll need to arrange installation of the aerial itself separately (Avant)
  • Sky: Available but may require installation
  • Landline: Optional - most residents use mobile phones only

Local Guide
#

Nearby Amenities
#

  • Skelton Lake Services: 15-minute walk - shops, food, fuel
  • Supermarkets: Tesco, Asda, Morrisons within short drive
  • Medical Services: See our Healthcare page
  • Schools: Multiple options - see Schools & Childcare

Transport Links#

  • M1 Motorway: Direct access via Junction 45
  • Bus Services: Regular routes to Leeds city centre
  • Train Stations: Nearest train station in Woodlesford. On the Northern line.
  • Full details on our Transport & Travel page

Local Services
#

  • Postal Code: LS9 (various specific postcodes within estate)
  • Post Collection: There is currently no postbox on the estate — the nearest is in the surrounding area
  • Waste Collection: See Bin Collection schedule
  • Parking: Designated spaces as per property deeds

Community Life
#

Getting Involved
#

  • Residents’ Association: Join to have your say in community matters
  • Community Events: Regular gatherings, seasonal celebrations
  • Walking Groups: See our Walking Routes page
  • Noticeboards: Stay updated via our Notices section

Estate Rules & Guidelines
#

  • Parking: Park only in designated areas
  • Noise: Be considerate of neighbours, especially late at night
  • Pets: Allowed in most properties - check your lease
  • Garden Maintenance: Keep front gardens tidy
  • Bin Storage: Store bins appropriately when not in collection day

Staying Informed
#

  • Website: Check this website regularly for updates
  • Email Newsletter: Sign up for monthly community news
  • Notice Boards: Located at key points around the estate
  • Social Media: Join the Skelton Gate Facebook group to connect with neighbours and stay up to date
  • Ask Skelton: Got a quick question? Ask Skelton, our AI assistant — it can answer questions about bins, buses, local services, and life on the estate

Frequently Asked Questions
#

For answers to common questions about living at Skelton Gate, please visit our FAQs page.

Need Help?
#

If you have questions not covered in this guide:

  • Ask Skelton — our AI assistant can answer questions about the estate any time, from bin days to bus times to local services
  • Check our FAQs and Useful Links pages for common questions and external resources
  • Contact your builder’s customer services for estate and property issues
  • Ask neighbours — the community is friendly and helpful!

Welcome home!

Downloads & Documents