House and home gives information on how to get help to adapt your home to your particular needs or in finding a new home.

Adaptations

Local social service departments and housing authorities will assess what improvements and adaptations you may need in order to live more independently in your own home. Local authorities can give two kinds of grants: House Renovation Grants make properties fit to live in; and Disabled Facilities Grants to make houses suitable for disabled people. In both cases you may be expected to pay some of the costs, depending on your income. For minor works of repair, improvements or adaptation local authorities may give Home Repair Assistance.

Help is available to all private sector owner-occupiers and tenants. Disabled people can also apply for help if they live in council property.

House Renovation Grants Discretionary grants (which are provided subject to means testing) cover getting the house in a liveable condition, for example, if it is structurally unsound or in serious disrepair. Grants may also cover improvements such as heating and putting in additional living accommodation

Disabled Facilities Grants Mandatory grants are awarded after an occupational therapist from social services has assessed whether the adaptations proposed are necessary and appropriate. Grants are available to make it easier for you to get into and around your home, or to provide suitably adapted kitchen an bathroom facilities, heating and controls.

Mandatory grants are limited to £20.000 but local authorities may give more if they consider it necessary.

Discretionary grants cover work done to make the place better for disabled people to live and work in , such as creating a play area for a disabled child or adapting a room for working from home.

Click here for more information on Disabled Facilities Grants

Home Repair Assistance is a discretionary grant. It may be given to meet the cost of minor repairs, improvements or adaptations subject to a limit of £2.000 per application or £4.000 over a three-year period.

It is not means-tested and, along with owner-occupiers and tenants (but not council tenants), you may be eligible for assistance if you have a right to occupy your home, even if you have no formal tenancy. You may also be eligible for Home Repair Assistance if you live in a mobile home or houseboat.

In Scotland There is a mandatory improvement grant to provide standard amenities to meet your needs as a disabled person. You might also be able to get discretionary improvement grants for works to make a house suitable for your welfare, accommodation or employment. The system is run by local authorities who will be able to give you details.

Home Insulation Grants EAGA Ltd, makes these grants towards draught proofing and insulating your home if you are on Attendance Allowance, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit, Family Credit or Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Disablement Pension or you are aged 60 or over.

Phone free: 0800 072 0150

Who does the work

The local authority which gives the grant may commission the work and supervise it, perhaps together with a housing association. However, it is more usual for the applicant to commission the builder and to supervise the works where they are in receipt of a house renovation grant or disabled facilities grant.

Renovation

RenovationExpert
Their website was formed to offer a unique reference point on building improvement and renovation advice.
Whether you are a property developer or simply renovating your home, they offer you help and advice on all aspects of building renovation.
Website: http://www.renovationexpert.co.uk/

Home improvement agencies
Foundations is the National Co-ordinating Body for Home Improvement Agencies in England
Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) are not for profit, locally based organisations that assist vulnerable homeowners or private sector tenants who are older, disabled or on low income to repair, improve, maintain or adapt their home
Website: http://www.foundations.uk.com/
There are around 250 such agencies across the UK. They help clients through the entire process of making decisions, arranging finance, and overseeing the building work.

Foundations role is to support, train and monitor agencies, to develop new schemes and to advise government on the allocation of funds from the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions to home improvement agencies.

These schemes are particularly important. The agencies give sensitive advice to each individual to suit their particular needs. Information is given about repair problems and cost, reliable builders, help available to pay for building work, and other grants and loans. As well as giving advice, agencies will handle applications and paperwork on behalf of disabled clients, and will check that building work is up to standard. Help is available for any job, from replacing a few slates to full renovation and improvement works.

Building repairs and adaptations are carried out where they are needed. Care & Repair schemes normally employ three workers. They liaise with service providers such as local authorities, building societies and trusts, and also develop a list of well tried builders. Sometimes, community programmes or voluntary labour are used for small repairs

Choosing your own contractor: If there is no Care & Repair scheme in your area, or if you prefer to make your own arrangements, it is important to be very careful who you choose to carry out building maintenance and repair work. Given the opportunity, slick salespeople may use high-pressure selling techniques to persuade you to enter into contracts for goods and services which you do not need and cannot afford. Some firms may take a deposit, but neglect to start the work, or may go out of business or simply disappear. Others, notoriously, will take on more work than they can handle, flitting from one job to another, leaving work unfinished and subjecting customers to long delays. Be particularly on your guard against people who come to your home uninvited and who seek to persuade you there and then that certain work needs doing. Above all, do not part with your money by way of a deposit to people who you know nothing about or rely on the word of a doorstep salesman that it is safe to sign documents, when you have not read them or do not fully understand their terms.

Most reputable, professional tradespeople belong to a trade association and work to a code of conduct. If anything does go wrong and you become involved in a dispute with the contractor, you can complain to the relevant association, which should be prepared to intervene and will hopefully put the matter right.

The golden rule is to make sure that you are in control, that you decide what work you want to have done, and that your requirements and a firm commitment to a work programme are put in writing. If the work is extensive, you may need to take the advice of an architect or surveyor, in which case you may find it helpful to consult the Centre for Accessible Environments (address below). When choosing a firm to carry out the work, try to take advice from people you trust and ‘shop around’, getting several estimates.

Care & Repair England is a charity set up in 1986
to improve the housing and living conditions of
older people and disabled people.
Website: http://www.careandrepair-england.org.uk/

Care & Repair Cymru (Wales)
Website: http://www.careandrepair.org.uk/

Care & Repair Forum Scotland's
Website: http://www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk/  

Finding a home

The Accessible Property Register
http://www.accessible-property.org.uk
New website which will bring information about accessible and adapted residential property into the mainstream.
They aim to be the first port-of call for anyone wanting a home for life.
The Accessible Property Register (APR), has teamed up with National Homes Network to establish the first
national network of estate agents committed to promoting accessible and adapted property.
http://www.nationalhomesnetwork.co.uk/  

HousingCare.org
This site will help you explore options and make decisions about meeting your housing, support and care
needs in later life
Website: http://www.housingcare.org/

Finding a home

Through your local authority

One of the roles of your local authority is to help disabled people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The social services and housing departments will work together to help if it is necessary for you to move to a more suitable property. They may also be able to arrange a transfer if you wish to move to a different area.

Through housing associations

A housing association is a non-profit making organisation run by a voluntary committee to provide low cost rented houses or help low-income earners buy their own. Working closely with both local authorities and charitable groups, they can provide housing for people with particular needs such as disabilityYou can get a list of housing associations specialising in housing for disabled people from your local authority or Housing Corporation which would keep information on registered associations.

Offices of The Housing Corporation
The National Affordable Homes Agewncy
Website: http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/index.php

The Housing Corporation is the government agency that funds new affordable homes and regulates housing associations in England.
They have about 450 staff based at nine offices throughout England (they do not work in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales).
The Housing Corporation also has a dedicated Centre for Research and Market Intelligence (CRMI).  CRMI produces quality research, analysis, innovation and good practice.  It aims to make the Housing Corporation world renowned for being the centre of expertise for housing policy and information

You can find which Housing Corporation office covers your area from their webpage ; http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/nav.396/

Location of Offices - contact
National telephone number (for all telephone enquiries): 0845 230 7000

Policy and Corporate Services & London Office 

Maple House

149 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 7BN

Fax: 020 7393 2111

Central

• Cambridge: Westbrook Centre, Block A Suite 1, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1YG Fax: 01223 272531
• Centre for Research and Market Intelligence (Cambridge):
• Leicester: Attenborough House, 109/119 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FQ Fax: 0116 242 4801
• Wolverhampton: 31 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4DJ
  Fax: 01902 795001

• Leeds: 1 Park Lane, Leeds, LS3 1EP
  Fax: 0113 233 7101
• Enquiries and Complaints (Leeds): enquiries@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk
• Manchester: 4th Floor, One Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, M1 1RG
  Fax: 0161 242 5901
• Gateshead: St George's House, Kingsway, Team Valley, Gateshead NE11 0NA Fax: 0191 482 7666 

• Croydon: Leon House, High Street, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1UH
  Fax: 020 8253 1444

• Exeter: Beaufort House, 51 New North Road, Exeter EX4 4EP
  Fax: 01392 4282

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Types of home

Housing which is especially suitable for disabled people includes mobility housing, wheelchair and sheltered housing, and lifetime homes.Mobility housing is a house with special features such as a ramped entrance and wider doors for people who can walk but may sometimes need a wheelchair.Wheelchair housing is specially designed for people who use wheelchairs all the time.Sheltered housing is in flats or bungalows with a resident warden for people who are elderly and/or disabled.

Lifetime homes have flexibility to be adapted to people’s changing physical capability over a lifetime, including possible wheelchair use.

Your local authority housing office will tell you about their services and about housing association properties in your area, and advise you which ones have access. They will give you an application form asking what kind of property you want and where you want to live.

In Scotland contact the local District Housing Department for your area or Scottish Homes, the national housing agency. Tel: 0131 313 0044

also in Scotland:
Margaret Blackwood Housing Association
http://www.mbha.org.uk
Provides housing for rent and shared ownership throughout Scotland for disabled, older and non-disabled people and their families.

In Wales you can also contact Tai Cymru (formerly Housing for Wales)

Tel: 02920 741500 (Cardiff) or 01492 641797 (Gwynedd)

Helpful organisations include: Age Concern/ Centre for Accessible Environments/ Disabled Living Centres/ HOMES (Housing Organisations Mobility and Exchange Service/ The Housing Corporation/ MENCAP/ National Disabled Person’s Housing Service ( an umbrella group for local housing services)/ National Schizophrenia Fellowship/ RADAR/ RNIB Housing Service/ RNID/ Shaftesbury Society/ Shelter/ Sign Campaigning for Services in Mental Health and Deafness/ SCOPE/ Spinal Injuries Association.  See Addresses for contact bdetails.

From the Home Office

Your Practical Guide To Crime Prevention. Free from Publicity Section, Home Office, Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1 9AT Tel: 0207 273 2193

From your local Fire Brigade headquarters

Fire Safety Advice for Disabled People

From Voluntary OrganisationsBuilding our lives: Housing, independent living and disabled people, By Linda Laurie, Shelter, £3.50 plus 75p-p&pMeeting the Cost of Adaptations, RADAR £1How to Find Appropriate Housing, RADAR £1A Home of My Own ?, by Pauline Thompson, Disablement Income Group, £4.50Home Management and Housing, Disability Housing TrustKitchen Sense for Disabled People, by Gwen Conacher, Disabled Living Foundation, £12.95Older Home Owners-Financial Help with Repairs, Age ConcernRenovation Grants– Including Help with Housing Repairs and Adaptations, Carers National AssociationYour Rights to Housing & Support, by Jenny Morris, Spinal Injuries AssociationThe BT Guide for people who are disabled or elderly, from local BT shops or Tel: 0800 800150 (voice) 0800 243123 (text)Our commitment to older or disabled customers, British Gas, from gas shops or phone the number on your gas billMaking Life Easier for People with Disabilities, Electricity Association, 30, Millbank, London SW1P 4RDUseful Addresses for People with Disabilities, Electricity Association

See ‘Addresses’ for full addresses of organisations mentioned in ‘HOUSE and HOME’

Further information on home improvements in England and Wales:

The following three publications are available free of charge from the department of the Environment transport and the Regions, Publications Dispatch Centre, Blackhorse road, London SE99 6TT (tel: 0208 691 9191; fax: 0208 694 0099) or, in the event of difficulty, from Housing Renewal Policy Division, Zone 2/G9, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU, or through the Department’s Public Enquiry Unit on 0207 890 3333:House renovation grants. This booklet provides general advice on the whole grants system.Disabled facilities grants. This leaflet provides advice on grants to adapt a disabled person’s homeHome repairs assistance. This leaflet provides general advice on the assistance available for minor works to a persons home.

Help with housing repairs (Carers National Association, 20-5 Glasshouse Yard, London EC1A 4JS, tel: 0207 490 8818; fax: 0207 490 8824), free to carers. An information booklet.

House improvement and repair grants in Scotland:

In Scotland, local councils operate a scheme under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 which is different from that in England and Wales. Some types of grant are mandatory, but others are discretionary. Grants may be refused if the property concerned was built or provided by conversion less than 10 years from the date of application (though this restriction can be waived in exceptional circumstances). Grants must be refused in the case of owner-occupier property if the Council Tax valuation band is above Band E (£80,000 at the time of writing). Where allowable, grants are based on the ‘approved expense’ accepted by the council within prescribed limits in prescribed circumstances. Details are given in a free booklet, available from The Scottish Office, Development Department, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, or from local authorities. Special help for disabled people: Works needed to make your home suitable for the welfare, accommodation or employment of a disabled person are eligible for improvement grants of up to 75 per cent of £12,000. A Standard Amenity Grant is available to a disabled occupant for the provision of an additional standard amenity more suitably located in the house. Neither the age of the property nor its Council Tax band are taken into consideration when the grant is for a disabled person.

Home renovation grants in Northern Ireland:

There is a scheme similar to that in England and Wales provided under Part III of the housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1992. The grant limit for the Disabled Facilities grant is £20,000 and this applies to a combination of mandatory and discretionary works.

A summary of the arrangements is given in the booklet A guide to Home Improvement Grants published by the Northern Ireland housing Executive. There are also leaflets providing general information about particular kinds of grant: Disabled facilities grants, Housing options for older people, Minor works assistance, renovation grants, and Housing help for people with a disability. These publications, further information and necessary forms can be obtained from 32-36 great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BA (tel: 02890 317000) or any other local Housing Executive grants office.

Northern Ireland: Staying Put, Fold Housing Trust, 3-6 Redburn Square, Holywood, County Down BT18 9HZ (tel: 02890 428314)

While it cannot take up individual complaints , the Office of Fair Trading, field House, 15-25 Bream’s Buildings, London EC4A 1PR ( consumer information line: 0345 224499), is an invaluable source of information about all consumer matters. It has published an easy-to-read free booklet, Home Improvements, which describes in greater detail the pitfalls often associated with arranging home improvements. In addition to general advice, it explains the importance of contracts ( and of reading them before you sign!), cancellation rights ( which apply only in limited circumstances), guarantees ( which may be worthless) and your legal rights. There is also a useful list of relevant trade and professional bodies, some of whom have sound guarantee schemes or codes of practice.

Centre for Accessible Environments
Nutmeg House,
60 Gainsford Street,
London SE1 2NY
Tel: 0207 357 8182; fax: 0207 357 8183
E-mail: cae@ globalnet.co.uk
Web: http://www.cae.org.uk