The agency
The responsibility of home ownership can be
daunting at the best of times. But when faced with repairs or adaptations
many people don’t know where to start.
The North Lincolnshire Home Improvement
Agency can guide homeowners and tenants through the whole process of home
repairs and adaptations. It is a professional service you can trust.
Who
can we help?
- Homeowners.
- Private sector tenants.
- Housing Association tenants.
- Council tenants.
- Specialist service to people with disabilities.
- Service targeted at lower income people.
How can you access our services?
- Home visits routinely offered.
- Services provided normal weekday hours
only.
- Office open normal weekday hours only.
- Office accessible by wheelchair.
- Initial home visits available, if needed.
How we can help you?
If your house needs repair or insulation work
or you need to make disabled adaptations we can help you. Staff will
visit you and offer information, advice and support on:
- Problems relating to their property.
- All their housing options.
- Completion of any necessary forms.
- Legal entitlements.
- Other available support services.
Financial assistance
Staff will give information about financial
options and their implications. They will also give practical assistance on
raising funds.
In the first instance we will be able to
advise you over the telephone if the work is likely to qualify for a loan
or grant aid. If so, we can help you make your application.
We can also advise you on:
- Obtaining independent financial advice.
- Releasing equity and accessing loans.
- Accessing charitable funding.
- Benefit entitlement.
- The effect that certain options may have
on benefit entitlement.
- Insurance claims.
- Savings.
Fees
If you have been awarded a grant, the agency
fee is 10 per cent of the total cost of the work (before VAT). The fee will
be included in your grant.
If you are paying for the work yourself or
getting a loan there is a scale of charges that applies to professional services.
A copy of these charges is available from the grants team.
If you are on a low income or means tested
benefit the service may be free.
Ask one of the team for further details.
What if I don’t qualify for a grant?
Even if you don’t qualify for
a grant we can help you by organising the work.
We will:
Identify the work that needs to be carried
out.
- Draw up detailed specification and, if
necessary, prepare plans.
- Get planning and building regulation approval.
- Help you apply for any benefits.
- Get tendered estimates from reliable contractors.
- Arrange a start date.
- Supervise the work.
- Resolve problems and organise payments.
- Advise on energy efficiency.
What other services does the Home
Improvement Agency provide?
- Handyperson
services.
- Home security advice and services.
- Falls prevention advice and services.
- Hospital discharge services.
- Services for people with specific disabilities
of impairments.
- ‘Housing options’ service / moving on
advice.
- Language interpreters available.
- Energy advice.
Contact information
For more information about our services please
contact:
Environmental Health (Housing) team
Neighbourhood and Environmental Services
North Lincolnshire Council
PO Box 42
Church Square House
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 6XQ
Telephone: 01724 297637
Email: environmentalhealth.housing@northlincs.gov.uk.