Home Improvement Agencies

Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) help homeowners and private sector tenants who are older or disabled to remain living independently, in safety and comfort, in their own home.  HIAs advise on improvements and adaptations which their clients may need in their homes and assist them to apply for local authority grants or loans in order to carry out the required work. They also help to identify reputable local contractors to undertake the work and oversee the work being carried out to ensure that their clients are completely satisfied. Many agencies also run handyperson services to carry out small jobs around the home, or operate specific schemes to improve home safety and security, prevent falls in the home, improve energy efficiency or make homes suitable for people to return to after a stay in hospital.

HIAs are usually small, locally based non-for-profit organisations; some are independent organisations, some are Local Authority in-house agencies, and some are run by a managing agent, such as a Housing Association.

National co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies

Communities and Local Government sponsors Foundations, the national co-ordinating body for HIAs. Foundations supports the work of HIAs by providing advice and support to the sector, promoting and raising the profile of HIAs, representing the movement in dealing with government and other stakeholders, and building capacity within the sector. Foundations’ website contains a directory of local HIAs and can be found at http://www.foundations.uk.com/

Foundations can be contacted at:
Foundations
Bleaklow House
Howard Town Mill
Glossop
Derbyshire, Sk13 8HT
Tel: 01457 891909
Fax: 01457 869361
E-mail: [email protected]

Communities and Local Government is reviewing the future of the National Co-ordinating Body. An independent paper by PA Consulting commissioned by the Department reports the findings of a stakeholder research project to help scope any subsequent contract for a National Coordinating Body. The Department is considering the findings and will make a decision on the future of the National Co-ordinating Body in the light of the Spending Review.