care and repair, handyperson, HIA, home improvement, home improvement agency
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Home Improvement
Updated on 19/06/2012
Home improvement refers to a range of services to assist vulnerable people with work to improve the safety, comfort and sustainability of their homes. Examples of home improvement include insulation, repairs, major and minor adaptations, efficient heating systems. Older people are the largest group receiving this type of support. Many of these services are provided by Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), which will offer information, advice, practical help (e.g. handyperson services) and may directly negotiate with builders etc on behalf of a an individual.
The resources listed below provide information about current types of services and issues for the future development of home improvement services.
- Living well in retirement This publication from HACT Fit for Living Network and supported by the Housing LIN, sets out an investment and delivery framework to enable low income older home-owners to repair, improve and adapt their...
- National Evaluation of the Handyperson Programme This is the final report of an independent evaluation of the Department for Communities and Local Government's handyperson programme. Undertaken by the University of York, the evaluation reports on value...
- Safe at Home: A preventive handyperson service in Devon This Housing LIN case study no 54 showcases a successful handyperson scheme in Devon. It describes how the scheme was established and its subsequent evolution in the face of changes in the organisational...
- Think Local, Act Personal and Housing - Making the Connection: Providing disabled facilities in the home This new report by the South East Joint Improvement Partnership in January examines how Councils with Social Services Responsibilities and Local Housing Authorities in South East England can and do work...
- Adapting for a lifetime - The key role of home improvement agencies in adaptations delivery This new report from Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIA) identifies examples of good practice and innovation within the HIA sector and their partnerships with local authorities,...
- Energy efficiency and eradicating fuel poverty Foundations has published this resource guide to provide home improvement agencies and commissioners with an update on energy efficiency and fuel poverty policy and practice. The resource guide provides...
- Connecting with Health and Care This report is published jointly by the Housing LIN and Foundations. In Autumn 2007 Foundations, the National Body for home improvement agencies, was commissioned by Communities and Local Government...
- The Future Home Improvement Agency - Handyperson services report Housing LIN Briefing No30 - This briefing provides an overview of the recent report published the Communities and Local Governments' (CLGs) which announced additional funding for handyperson service...
- Rainy Days, Silver Linings This Housing LIN Report looks at attitudes towards home equity release for care services and the products currently available on the market. It also looks at the potential for using home equity in this...
- The Future Home Improvement Agency: Supporting choice and maintaining independence An overview report on factors that will determine the future success of Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) produced as part of the Future HIA project. The role of HIAs in coordinating housing support and...
- Small things matter - the key role of handyperson services (March 2006) Published by Care and Repair England, March 2006 This report by Care & Repair England examines the current provision fo small repairs and minor adaptations services being provided by the main older...
- Health and Winter Warmth - reducing health inequalities Produced by the Regional Public Health Group in the South East, this factsheet describes the links between fuel poverty and ill health and outlines the evidence about what works in reducing fuel poverty....
- The Kent Health & Affordable warmth strategy A brief Housing LIN Case study No8 describing the strategy in Kent to reduce fuel poverty and improve health.
