Care and Repair East Cambridgeshire

Support for Vulnerable People needing building works to their homes

The Care and Repair Agency in this District is an independent organisation that helps elderly and disabled people to remain at home in safety and security. Local councils and charitable organisations help finance our office.

If you need some building work done in your home, are not sure how to organise it or need financial help then please read on .......

Handy Person Service

We have a handy person service that carries out small jobs (less than 4 hours work)-small carpentry jobs such as putting up shelves, small plumbing jobs such as dripping taps and overflows, small outside jobs such as repairs to gates and putting up washing lines. We charge £10 an hour plus materials.

The handyperson service will also put up grab rails and stair rails free of charge.

Grants from the District Council

We can help you organise repairs, improvements and adaptations to you home. If you need financial help to pay for the work we can advise you about the availability and criteria for grants and loans from the District Council and Social Services.

The Council have limited resources but there are small grants available for repairs that need to be done to make your home safe to live in. Examples could be leaking roofs, pluming leaks, dangerous electrics, cold homes. There are also repayable grants available for larger jobs: these are interest free and get repaid when the house is sold.

Grants for Adaptations

There are grants available to help you carry out adaptations to your home such as providing a level access shower. These are subject to a Test of Resources, which is more generous than many people expect.

If you contact us we can advise you about the Test of Resources and how the system works. There are delays so you need to be patient if applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant. The recommendations for the grant come from the occupationaltherapists and there is a waiting list for assessments.

Charities and Trusts

The Agency can also apply to charities and trusts if help is need to pay for repairsand other costs such as replacing a dangerous cooker. We have a small hardship fundfor emergencies and when no other funding is available.

Paying for Work Yourself

We can organise work on your behalf-drawing plans, obtaining planningpermission and building control approval and getting contractors quotations. If youare paying for the work yourself, we charge a fee agreed with you before any workstarts.

Contacting Us

We offer free, confidential advice, coming to visit you in your own home todiscuss what is needed and how we might be able to help. You can contact us at:

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