Help with vital home improvements
| Published: 14th June 2007 12:20 |
Help with vital home improvements
Millions of homes are in urgent need of renovation work if they are to stand the test of time.
The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) state that more than 2.5 million homes in the UK require substantial repairs and, of these, 1.6 million are technically unfit to live in. Yet many people have no choice but to live in them.
Over 90% of today's homes will still be in existence in 100 year's time, says the NHIC. Already half are over 50 years old and there is an urgent need to modernise all homes to improve living standards, particularly as many of these older homes are inhabited by the elderly who are particularly vulnerable. One of the main objectives of the NHIC is to encourage renovation and modernisation in order to avoid further deterioration of the nation's housing stock. Looking at the bigger picture, creating better, healthier homes also helps to reduce the burden on the health and social services. It also helps to ensure that the predicted need for an additional 4.4 million homes over the next 20 years will be met.
The trouble is that many people living in homes in urgent need of repair and modernisation cannot afford to make the necessary changes. However, there is help available for low income households.
Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) are not-for-profit organisations, funded and supported by local and central government, that can help you repair, improve, maintain or adapt your home. They provide advice, support and assistance to elderly, disabled and vulnerable people who own and live in their own property. The purpose of the service is to help people keep warm, safe and secure in their own homes.
To assess someone's needs, HIA staff will visit them and offer information, advice and support on problems relating to their property, all their housing options, completion of any necessary forms, legal entitlements and other available support services.
HIA staff will provide information about financial options and their implications and provide practical assistance on raising funds. They will discuss the availability of grants from statutory bodies, accessing charitable funding and benefit entitlement. They will also talk about the possibility of releasing equity and accessing loans and the effect that certain options may have on benefit entitlement. They can also help homeowners source independent financial advice.
On a more practical level, HIA staff will offer reliable technical help, which will include advice on the scale and cost of any necessary works, help with choosing a reputable and reliable builder, monitoring the builder's performance and assisting with any contracts and documentation. They may even be able to provide additional services such as a handyperson, decorator or gardener.
For details of your local HIA, call Foundations on 01457 891909 or visit their website
For the elderly and disabled, financial assistance can also be found through another non-profit organisation, the Home Improvement Trust. Their aim is to enable older people to live safely and independently in their own homes for longer by providing low cost loans and equity release schemes in order to fund repairs, improvements or adaptations. The Trust works with HIAs, local authorities, health care agencies and the lending institutions. For more information on the Home Improvement Trust, call 0115 9349511.
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