Help with home improvements

As you get older, making repairs to your home or maintaining it can become more difficult. There are several organisations who can help you with odd jobs such gardening and cleaning, or give advice on repairs you made need to your property.

Age UK Barnet Handyperson scheme

The scheme provides a small household repairs and odd job service for older people in the borough to help them to maintain their independance at home. Adjustments can be made to homes to prevent falls and assistance given to keep homes safe. The scheme also aid hospital discharge.

This service is available to older people in Barnet regardless of thier income or where they live.

The handyperson cannot do jobs that require a qualified tradesman such as eletrical, plumbing or central heating. In addition the handyperson does not do jobs on an ongoing basis such as regular gardening or maintenance.

Examples of the kind of work covered by the scheme includes:

  • replacing light bulbs and improving low or poor quality lighting
  • fitting security equipment such as door chains, locks and spyholes
  • installing smoke detectors
  • taking down and putting up curtains
  • changing tap washers
  • installing key safes
  • garden clearance
  • assistance with packing for removals
  • minor decorating

Labour is free but a charge is made for materials.

Handyperson Coordinator, Age Concern Barnet, The Meritage Centre, Church End, Hendon NW4 4JT

Barnet Care and Repair Agency

Barnet Care and Repair is an advisory and support service which helps vulnerable older people who are owner occupiers or private sector tenants to complete adaptations or repairs to their homes. Care and Repair staff will:

  • advise on the scope of adaptations or repairs, draw up plans and specifications and make applications for plannign and building control permissions
  • assist in applying for available grants or other funding to pay for the work
  • help in obtaining quotations from reliable builders
  • supervise works and arrange for payments to be made

The initial visit advice and information is free, but Care and Repair charge a fee if they organise the work on your behalf using their builders.

Barnet Care and Repair Agency, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South N11 1NP

  • Tel: 020 8359 7462
  • Fax: 0870 889 6793

Good Neighbour Schemes

Many of the Good Neighbour Schemes will undertake small repair jobs about the home and help with gardening. These services are mainly for people who are housebound due to age or infirmity and are unable to afford professional services.

Keeping your home warm in winter

Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust is an advice service for people who live in London which offers information on energy efficiency measures such as insulation and draught proofing. These measures can reduce your fuel bills.

Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre, Ambassador House, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7JG

Barnet Care and Repair can also provide advice and information on loft insulation and draught proofing.

The Warm Front Grant

The Eaga Partnership administers the Warm Front Grant on behalf of the government. This scheme provides a grant of up to £2,700 which is then used by qualified installers to provide a package of insulation and heating measures. These include loft and cavity-wall insulation, draughtproofing, and gas, electric or oil central heating systems.

You may qualify for a Warm Front Grant if you own your home or privately rent it and receive one or more qualifying benefits such as pension credit, income support, housing or council tax benefit or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.

If you do not qualify for the Grant, but do not have a working central heating system, you may still be eligible for a £300 rebate. If you are unsure about whether you qualify for the Grant, you can contact the Benefit Entitlement Check team.

For more tips about keeping warm and well, see our Keeping Warm in Winter page.

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Safeguarding Adults

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email icon Email this pageLast modified by: Sushila Shah on 28/09/2011


Contact

Address
North London Business Park (NLBP)
Oakleigh Road South
London
N11 1NP
Phone Number
020 8359 2440
Text Number (SMS)
07781 473279
Fax Number
020 8359 2570
Typetalk
18001 020 8359 2040
Email
olderadults.dutyteam@barnet.gov.uk