Home Improvement Agency Service

The Agency assists many clients to remain in their own homes in greater comfort and safety.

The Agency has supported these clients by:

Arranging funding for major repairs, such as dangerous electrics, damp proofing and re-roofing and for minor repairs such as re-pointing, brickwork, new windows and rainwater goods
Working in conjunction with NYCC Adult & Community Services to enable a wide range of adaptations to be carried out, ranging from ramps, showers and stair lifts to more substantial works such as ground floor extensions.

The Agency also assists clients by arranging tenders for these works using contractors on its 'Preferred List of Contractors' and deals with contract administration, including monitoring start and finish dates and arranging payments of bills, to try to ensure disruption to clients is kept to a minimum.

Contractors who wish to be included on the Agency's Preferred List of Contractors can do so by contacting the Agency.

Home Safety Advice
The Agency is currently running a Home Safety Project which provides advice and assistance in the following areas of Home Safety:

Fire Prevention
Crime Prevention
Energy Efficiency
Falls Prevention
General Advice

The Agency has a Handyperson scheme which has enabled works to be carried out under the above project, to provide and fit preventative safety measures such as, door chains and locks, smoke alarms, grab rails and carpet strips.

The project also provides energy efficiency advice and assistance through the completion of a Home Energy Survey on behalf of its clients. In addition to this assistance is given to clients who are eligible to apply for a grant from the Warm Front scheme to fund the installation of energy saving measures, such as loft insulation and central heating, to their homes.

Who it is for: Older and vulnerable people.
Where it is available: Local service covering: Scarborough (North Yorkshire).
What it costs: All initial advice is free. Where works are carried out, a fee of 10% of any eligible works is payable to the Agency for their services. However, this fee is usually covered through assistance approved to the client by Scarborough Borough Council.
Classification(s): Home maintenance, Adaptations - minor, Adaptations - major, Home improvement agencies, Handyperson / Odd jobs, Major repairs, Safety & security
Info last updated: 28/03/2011.

About the service provider:
Contact info:	Scarborough Borough Home Improvement Agency: Environmental Health Services, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2HG. (view on map) Telephone: 01723 232 527 Fax: 01723 365 280 http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=12073 Contact the provider
Parent organisation:	Scarborough Borough Council
Who are they?	All housing formerly managed by Scarborough BC was transferred to Yorkshire Coast Homes, a registered charitable Housing Association, in November 2003.