Home adaptations
Care and Repair is an in-house Home Improvement agency that operates across the Boroughs of Guildford and Waverley. The service supports residents that own their own properties or live in private rented accommodation, including Housing Association properties
We aim to help older, vulnerable and disabled people adapt their home environments making them more accessible and enable independence, keeping people safe at home.
We can help you look at the recommendations made by a Occupational Therapist and help you find the most suitable adaptation and offer advice on how an adaptation can be funded. All grant works must be necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person's need and the project be reasonable and practicable.
Minor adaptations include:
- stair lifts
- ramps, external galvanised rails
- small pieces of equipment
Funding available: Non Means Tested Disabled Facilities Grant
Major adaptations include:
- level access showers
- door widening, door entry systems
- through floor lifts
- extensions
- alterations to existing properties
- wash dry toilets
Funding available: Means Tested Disabled Facilities Grant
You can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant with or without the services of Care and Repair.
Major adaptation process
When you recieve your occupational therapy report, a team member will visit your home. They will explain the adaptation process. An initial means test will be completed to establish whether you are eligible for a grant. If you fail the means test, Care and Repair can help. We will ensure that the adaptation is managed to an agreeable standard before finalising payments to contractors.
After the first home visit, a Surveyor will schedule a time to design and create a work plan. These documents will enable us to start the tendering process with contractors. The surveyor will be guided by the recommendations made by the occupational therapist. Personal choices can be discussed at this stage, but may not be grant funded.
On return of the tenders these will be appraised by the Surveyor to ensure we achieve best value for your adaptation. The grant application is finalised at this stage.
We will then monitor your adaptation. We will liaise with you and the contractors throughout the project. We will ensure the adaptation meets a high standard before paying contractors.
Adaptations
The advice given by Care and Repair is free. You are under no obligation to go ahead with the works. If you want Care and Repair to advocate for you in the grant application and adaptation process, we will charge a fee. This is normally calculated as a percentage of the net cost of the works. The fees will be paid from the grant if eligible.
We recommend that you read this webpage, our leaflet (PDF) [177KB] and Communities and Local Government Disabled Facilities Grant (opens new window). This explains the grant process in more detail and the options available to you.