Frequently asked Questions about our Organisation

Who can ask for help from Care and Repair?
People who are over 60, disabled or on a low income can contact us.

Is there a charge for your service?
We do not charge for advice or home visits.

If we organise building work we usually make a charge. If you are applying for a Housing Grant this will cover the cost of our fees. Fees to be charged to our clients will be agreed before a job commences and are usually 5% 0f the building costs.

What sort of work can you help organise?
We are here to help organise repairs, adaptations and improvements to your home.

Repairs include works to make your home safe, such as replacing dangerous electric wiring, and works to make it weatherproof such as repairing a leaky roof.

Adaptations include alterations to the bathroom and toilet facilities, stair lifts, widening doors and sometimes extensions.

Improvements include the provision of adequate heating and double-glazing.

Do I have to come to your office to make an enquiry?
They can do this by telephone, letter, fax or e-mail. If you want, a relative, friend, carer or other professional can contact us on your behalf, as long as you have given your permission for them to do so.

What will happen when I contact your office?
The person taking your enquiry will take your details, that is your name, address, phone number and date of birth and the reason you are contacting us. A caseworker will then ring you back and discuss your query with you. In most cases they will make an appointment to visit you in your own home for further discussions so they can advise you what help is available.

What happens to the information I give to the caseworker?
When the caseworker visits you they will ask for information about you so they can advise you about help available for your circumstances. All information you give is confidential and will not be passed to others without your permission.

The information is entered on our computer database to provide our funders with statistical reports. It is also kept on your personal file in our office.

Could your Agency help me if I pay for the building work myself?
Yes we can help you organise building work including drawing up plans and schedules, obtaining prices from contractors and monitoring the work on site. We charge a fee for this service, which will be agreed with you before hand depending on the amount of work involved. As a guide, we charge in the region of 5% of the expected cost of the works.

Frequently asked Questions about Housing Grants

Can I apply for a grant to help pay for adaptations to my home?

The caseworker will advise you if you could be eligible for a grant. Many, but not all grants depend on your income and savings. If you provide financial data when the caseworker visits, they will be able to advise you about eligibility for grants.

The District Council administer Disabled Facilities Grants. They require a recommendation from an Occupational Therapist employed by the Primary Care Trust. Unfortunately there is a waiting list and the caseworker will advise you about joining this list.

Are there grants to pay for repairs?

There are grants available from the District Council to help fund repairs. These are discretionary and funding is limited.

The caseworker can advise on the current availability and criteria for these grants.

Sometimes we can raise money from charities or trusts to help may for works. The information collected by the caseworker will help them offer advice on this possibility.

If I have savings, will I still be able to apply for a grant?

The test of resources that is applied to most grants depends on a combination of income and savings and also the applicants age, their entitlement to Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance and other personal circumstances.

You can have savings and apply for a grant. The caseworker will assess your individual circumstances.

My home is cold. Is there any help available to improve the heating and insulation?

There are grants available to help pay for heating and insulation. Some depend on income or entitlement to benefits.