Housing > Improvements and repairs

Accommodation certificates - fitness for human habitation
The aim of this service is to identify properties which fail to meet the fitness for habitation or tolerable standard requirement and determine the most satisfactory course of action to be taken with that property.
Council housing - home adaptations
The Council provides adaptations to Council properties to suit the needs of disabled people or people with mobility problems. These can include providing a rail, lever taps, ramp, shower or stairlift. If the adaptations are non-essential a tenant has the right to carry out improvements with permission from the local authority housing department.
Council housing - home modernisation
All Councils have been set a target of raising the standard of all its properties by the year 2010 by the Government in England and Wales or by 2015 by the Scottish Executive in Scotland . Improvements should include double-glazed windows, replacement kitchens and bathrooms, updated heating systems.
Council housing - improvement strategy
The Government requires all local housing authorities to achieve a new 'decent homes' standard by 2010 and to consult with tenants, leaseholders and other stakeholders about how best to achieve this and other wishes for service improvements.
Council housing - modernisation schemes
For council owned properties which are particularly old the council will implement a modernisation scheme to bring the property up to acceptable standards. This may involve rewiring, new windows, new doors etc.
Council housing - tenancy issues
As well as officers taking repair reports, collecting rents and other payments, managing rent arrears and dealing with breaches of the tenancy agreement; local estate staff can also help and advise on a number of other issues including moving, adaptations and multiple tenancies
Disabled people - home adaptations and aids
If a client is visually impaired, hard of hearing or has other disabilities for which he/she may need special equipment or adaptations to his/her home the local authority will provide such equipment which will assist in overcoming difficulties subject to an assessment of personal needs to determine eligibility.
Garden maintenance
Garden maintenance for elderly (aged 60 or over) or disabled tenants who are not capable of doing the work themselves.
Home improvements - disability facility grant for a private property
The disabled facilities grant scheme provides financial assistance towards the cost of essential adaptation work to make a house fit for a disabled person.
Home improvements - home repair assistance grant
The repair assistance grant scheme provides financial assistance towards the cost of materials required to carry out repairs, improvements or adaptations to rented council property.
Home improvements - housing renovation grant for a private property
A renovation grant scheme provides financial assistance towards the cost of larger scale works required to make a house fit for occupancy or to put a dwelling into reasonable repair.
Home improvements - renovation grants
The house renovation grants scheme provides council tenants with financial assistance towards the cost of home improvements.
Home safety advice
Advice and information about safety in the home including accident prevention, what to do in the event of an accident, risks in the home etc. Some authorities may run safety awareness training sessions for the local community.
Housing - Care and Repair scheme
The Care and Repair project is for elderly or disabled owner/occupiers or private sector tenants who require repairs or improvements to their home. The service excludes decoration, gardening, fencing, slabbing etc. Clients are required to pay the cost of the materials only. A hardship fund will operate to pay for materials in limited cases. If you are unsure whether the small repairs service can assist, please telephone for advice.
Housing - alterations by tenants
A tenant who wishes to carry out improvements and alterations to their local authority property must request permission from the local authority.
Housing - information and advice
Advice to tenants and landlords in the private sector on housing related matters such as tenancies, welfare benefits, rent, repairs etc.
Housing and Council Tax Benefit Overpayments
The local authority has a duty to recover overpayments of benefit for which there was no entitlement from tenants and landlords and where necessary take criminal proceedings in respect of fraudulent overpayments.
Housing and Council Tax Benefit appeals
Anyone who has claimed housing benefit and disagrees with the decision made in their assessment can challenge the decision by submitting an appeals form within one month of the date of the original decision. The authority is responsible for advising claimants of appeal procedures and investigating each appeal.
Housing benefit - backdated claims
A claimant may be eligible for their claim for housing benefit to be backdated (by up to 52 weeks) if there is a good cause why they were unable to apply for their housing benefit earlier. The authority is responsible for advising residents about eligibility for backdating claims and for processing applications.
Housing benefit - change of circumstances
Review of housing benefit for an existing client usually as a result of a change of circumstances (new job, change of address etc.)
Housing benefit - new claim
Processing of a new claim for housing benefit from both council and private tenants. Claims require evidence of tenancy and income in order to assess eligibility for benefit.
Housing benefit - renewal
Housing benefit is generally paid for a maximum of 60 weeks (5 years if the claimant is over 60). The local authority is responsible for issuing the claimant with a renewal form approximately 8 weeks before the current benefit period is due to end and for assessing the eligibility of the claimant to continue to receive housing benefit.
Housing repairs - communal areas
The local authority deals with repairs to communal areas within council accommodation such as communal lighting in a block of flats, or the communal drainpipes to a block of garages.
Housing repairs - council property
The council are generally responsible for structural repairs to council property, for repairs to essential supplies (water, gas, electricity etc.) or any repairs where they may be a risk to health or safety. Where the damage has been caused by the resident they may be asked to pay for the repairs.
Housing repairs - decoration and disturbance allowances
A new or existing tenant may be eligible for a decoration or disturbance allowance where the council need to carry out major repairs or redecoration work to a property whilst the tenant is still living there.
Housing repairs - emergency out of hours repairs
The local authority operates an emergency repair service to deal with essential repairs outside of normal working hours where there may be risk to tenants, the public or the environment if the repairs are not carried out immediately or where the property may not be secured.
Housing repairs - overdue repairs - discretionary allowance
Provision of a discretionary allowance to tenants where it has not been possible to carry out essential repairs to their home or to communal areas around their home within a reasonable or agreed timeframe.
Housing repairs - rechargeable repairs
Where a property requires repair as the result of damage or negligence caused by the tenant the local authority will charge for the cost of work to rectify the problem.
Land and property - improvement
A local authority may provide financial support to help develop and redevelop industrial and commercial land and buildings. Assistance is directed towards work which will create or enhance existing floor space, bring currently obsolete/vacant land and buildings into beneficial use and improve working conditions
Surveying - major repairs
The local authority is under a duty to gain access to properties to undertake surveys for number of reasons such as major repairs and to carry out specialist surveys.