Home Improvement Agency
The Home Improvement Agency exists to help elderly people and disabled people, living in private housing, who are on a low income and need repairs or disabled adaptations in their homes. Grants may be available to assist with adaptations, repairs, safety and security, energy efficiency work and heating.
What kind of work can we help with?
We can help with:
- roof repairs
- damp-proofing
- rotten windows and doors
- adaptations for people with disabilities, for example, stairlifts, showers and handrails
- security work
- heating problems.
How does our service work?
We will visit you at home to discuss your needs and help you to find the solution that is right for you. We can:
- help you apply for any benefits or grants you should be getting to improve your income
- tell you if there are grants or loans available from the Council or other providers to pay for the work that you need, but you do not have to get a grant to use our service
- help you to decide what work should be done and help prepare drawings and specifications
- provide advice on reliable contractors, help you get estimates for the cost of the work and supervise the whole job
- put you in touch with other people who can help, for example, the occupational therapy service or the Every Pound Counts campaign, or Age Concern Lambeth Handyperson service.
What will it cost?
Our advisory service is free. If you decide to carry out work with our help we will usually charge a fee for our technical services based on the cost of the work. This can be included in a grant or loan if one is available.
Who qualifies for help?
You qualify for help if you are:
- over 60 and a freehold or leasehold owner-occupier
- over 60 with a disability and an owner-occupier or tenant of private landlords or housing associations
- a young person with disabilities and an owner-occupier
- a young person with disabilities and a tenant of private landlords or housing associations.
How long will it take?
Normally a HIA case manager will contact you and arrange to visit you at home within six weeks of your phone call or message.
What financial help is available?
Grant or loan assistance may be available to help you pay for any work that needs doing. The Home Improvement Agency will be able to tell you what help is currently available.
This may include disabled facilities grants for private properties, home repairs assistance grants, Houseproud loans and energy efficiency grants and loans.
These grants are for people who have been seen by a community occupational therapist who has recommended an adaptation. An adaptation may include a stairlift, an adapted bathroom or kitchen, access ramps or other work to help people access
Small Works Grants
There may be some small grants available for urgent and essential repairs for older people living on their own or with another older person, if they are on a low income.
Houseproud loans
To pay for repairs and adaptations. These loans are available for those who do not qualify for grants or in cases where a grant would not cover all of the costs.
People who need insulation work, better heating controls, new boilers, or central heating may be eligible for a grant from the Coldbusters scheme if they receive an income related benefit.