Housing repairs

Age UK
Offer gardening and handyperson services from volunteers.
Call 01296 431911
www.ageuk.org.uk/buckinghamshire/

Home improvement agencies (HIAs) are not-for-profit organisations run by housing associations, local authorities and charities. They can help people who own their own homes, or who live in privately rented accommodation, and who are elderly, disabled, or on a low income to repair, maintain or adapt their home.

For example, an HIA can:

• arrange for repairs to be carried out to your home
• help you to get funding for repairs to be carried out to your home
• give you advice about a range of issues which affect your living conditions
• organise the fitting of small aids and adaptations to help you live independently in your home
• install security measures to your home such as door and window locks, door chains and viewers

Foundations are the national body for Home Improvement Agency and Handypersons Services. They can can put you in touch with your local organisation, if one exists. The contact details are:-

Foundations

Tel: 0845 864 5210
Email: info@foundations.uk.com
Website: www.foundations.uk.com

If you live in a council house or a housing association property then you can contact them for support with housing repairs.

There is lots of useful advice on this available from the Shelter housing charity website. Including what to do if a council or housing association refuses to carry out repairs, takes too long, or does them badly.

Would you like to improve the warmth, comfort, safety and security of your home?

If you’re a homeowner aged 60 or over then you can get a Flexible Home Improvement Loan from your district council.

With these loans you can repay as little or as much of the loan as you like each month. Backed up by the peace of mind that it has been provided on a not-for-profit basis.

What improvements can be considered?

The District council will consider improvements that make the home safer, warmed, healthier or more comfortable for the occupants. Examples of work that may be acceptable include:

• Essential repairs and maintenance
• Central heating or improvements to heating
• Replacement doors and windows
• Improvements to insulation
• Roof and structural repairs
• Replacement bathroom suites
• Installation of level-access showers
• Plumbing and drainage repairs
• Rewiring
• Replacement kitchens
• Burglar alarm and home security
• Replacement guttering, soffits and cladding
• Work associated with eradicating dampness, wet rot, dry rot and woodworm
• Installation of stair-lifts and other adaptations