Home User Guides / Apartment User Guides are prepared to provide occupants with clear, accessible information on the safe and efficient use of the systems and installed equipment within residential dwellings. These guides translate the technical information contained within Operation and Maintenance (O&M) manuals into simplified instructions suitable for non-technical users. 

Their primary purpose is to support residents in understanding how to operate services within their dwelling, maintain comfort and safety, and avoid misuse that could result in damage to building systems or reduced performance.

Scope and Application

A Home User Guide typically applies to individual dwellings within residential developments, such as houses or townhouses, while Apartment User Guides are tailored to individual units within multi-residential buildings. 

In apartment developments, the guide focuses on systems that are directly controlled or accessed by the resident, while noting where building-wide systems are managed by the building manager or owners corporation. These guides are intended for use by residents, tenants, and property managers following building handover.

Typical Content

The guides normally include an overview of the dwelling layout and installed systems, along with simple operating instructions and key safety information. Information is typically presented using diagrams, photographs, and step-by-step instructions to ensure clarity for occupants with no technical background. Typical content may include:

• Introduction to document, how to use it and a description of the dwelling and development, including address and key property information.
• Emergency, Projects and Manufacturer Contact Details;
• Building Facilities (Specific to Apartment Buildings) such as emergency exit routes, common areas and refuser collection with key Building Management contacts 
• Dwelling Services such as Ventilation, Heating, Metering and HWS: Details on the systems installed, how to operate them and what to do if you have a fault or problem
• Waste management and recycling arrangements
• Guidance on maintaining good indoor environmental quality, including ventilation and condensation control
• Maintenance responsibilities and clarification of responsibilities between residents, landlords, and building management
• Basic maintenance and care guidance, including general advice on maintaining building fixtures, fittings, and equipment
• Snagging and Settlement: space available for occupiers records
• Certification specific to the home or apartment
• Drawings – layout plans of the space

Relationship to Sustainability Certification Requirements

Home and Apartment User Guides can also play a role in meeting sustainability certification requirements by providing occupants with guidance that supports the efficient and safe operation of building systems. Key points include:

• Green Star (Australia & NZ): Guides can contribute to “Operation & Maintenance” credits by demonstrating that occupants are provided with information to operate systems efficiently.  Guidance on energy-efficient use of heating, cooling, lighting, and water systems supports ongoing performance monitoring and reduces unnecessary resource use.
• BREEAM (UK and International): Home / Apartment User Guides support “Man 03 – Responsible Construction Practices” and “Hea 01 – Visual Comfort / Indoor Environment Quality” credits by ensuring that building users understand and maintain building systems to achieve optimal energy, water, and indoor environmental performance.
  
• LEED (US and International): Guides can contribute to “LEED O+M” credits for Energy and Atmosphere, Water Efficiency, and Indoor Environmental Quality by educating occupants on best practices.  Clear operational guidance helps achieve sustained performance over the building’s lifecycle and supports measurement and verification activities.

Applicable Regulations and Standards

While Home User Guides or Apartment User Guides are not always prescribed as a specific document within legislation, many jurisdictions require building owners or developers to provide occupants with information relating to the safe use, operation, and basic maintenance awareness of installed building systems. These obligations typically arise through building regulations, building safety legislation, warranty provider requirements, and handover documentation obligations.

United Kingdom

In the UK, the provision of occupant information is primarily driven by requirements within the Building Regulations 2010, associated approved documents, and broader building safety legislation.  Key regulatory drivers include:

• Building Safety Act 2022 – Introduces enhanced requirements for building safety information, particularly for higher-risk residential buildings. Occupants must be provided with information explaining safety features and how to interact with building systems safely.
• Approved Document L – Requires that building owners are provided with sufficient information about building services to operate systems efficiently. This information is typically distilled into occupant guidance for residents.
• BSRIA Guide BG 26 – Although not legislation, this widely recognised industry guide recommends the preparation of a simplified building user guide explaining building systems to occupants.
• Warranty providers such as NHBC commonly require developers to provide homeowner documentation explaining operation and maintenance of installed systems.

Australia / New Zealand

Requirements for occupant information arise through the Australian National Construction Code, New Zealand’s Building Act 2004 and the New Zealand Building Code. Although the NCC does not explicitly mandate a “Home User Guide”, providing simplified resident guidance is considered best practice, particularly for multi-residential developments where building systems such as mechanical ventilation, fire systems, or hot water systems require user awareness.

Canada

Canadian regulatory requirements vary by province, but generally stem from provincial building codes derived from the National Building Code of Canada.

Key drivers include:

• Requirements to provide operation and maintenance documentation for building systems.
• Handover documentation obligations for condominium developments under provincial legislation such as condominium acts.
• Warranty providers (e.g. Tarion Warranty Corporation) requiring homeowner documentation explaining building systems and maintenance responsibilities.

Conclusion

Home and Apartment User Guides are an essential part of modern residential building handover, bridging the gap between complex technical documentation and the practical needs of occupants. They ensure residents can safely and efficiently operate building systems, maintain comfort, and fulfil their responsibilities while supporting the long-term performance of the building. 

Beyond compliance, these guides also contribute to sustainability and certification objectives, helping projects achieve credits under Green Star, BREEAM, and LEED by promoting energy, water, and resource-efficient operation. By integrating clear guidance, maintenance responsibilities, and emergency procedures, Home and Apartment User Guides enhance occupant confidence, safety, and the overall value of the residential development.

Outsourcing Technical Documentation

For contractors and project managers, technical authoring of home and apartment user guides often presents a significant challenge due to time pressure, technical expertise and the need to focus on on-site duties. Outsourcing to specialist technical writing experts becomes invaluable in these situations to ensure that documentation is accurate, concise, delivered on time and cost effective.

Why Choose Dewick & Associates?

Dewick & Associates’ team are fully knowledgeable in the stringent requirements of local regulations and contractual requirements associated with construction documentation.  By choosing to outsource to us, contractors achieve three key advantages:

• Technical Knowledge: our in-house Chartered Engineers (CIBSE CEng / CPEng. Mech MIEAust) and Technical Writing Team technically author all of our O&M Manuals.  This professional expertise is crucial for accurately translating complex installation drawings / schematic / technical data into clear, concise and accurate documentation.
• Time & Cost Efficiency: freeing up expensive on-site management time.
• Guaranteed Compliance: delivering the complete, verified document necessary for timely Practical Completion and successful handover.
• Complete handover package: proactive document management and early-stage compilation throughout the project lifecycle, preventing last-minute information scrambles and reducing the risk of delays to Practical Completion.

We are able to transform complex, fragmented site data into an accessible, auditable, and high-quality documentation for your project handover.

Coupled with providing fully comprehensive construction documentation, including Building Handover Manuals, O&M Manuals, Health & Safety Files and Regulation 38 Files, CIBSE TM31 Logbooks complete the mandatory documentation provision at handover for your projects. Outsource this to the experts so you can concentrate on the pressing onsite works to complete the project to the high standard required.