Home Safety and Handyperson services

Cumberland Home Improvement Agency manages Home Safety and Handyperson services, to provide a responsive service for minor repairs and adaptations. Minor repairs are defined as works which usually only require one person and can be completed in less than half a day.

These services are discretionary and depend on there being resources available at the time of application.

Such works can include:

carrying out a home safety check
minor safety works – dealing with trip hazards, such as loose flooring, or hazards impacting on getting into / out of the house (including door handles, gate latches, etc)
security improvements including changing locks, installing key safes or door spyholes

Accessing the Handyperson service

Handyperson works are free to homeowners who are claiming means-tested benefits (see Appendix 4 for a list of benefits that qualify).

If you rent your home, many repairs are the responsibility of your landlord, so we encourage you to speak to your landlord first.

Home Safety Grants

Where more works are needed, we may award a home safety grant of up to £3,000 per year.

These grants are discretionary, and may be used for works such as:

works to improve the safety of a disabled person, or their carers, where a Disabled Facilities Grant application is not needed
minor repairs needed for vulnerable people where their health is at risk
safety-testing in the home (electrical safety, asbestos) for disabled or vulnerable applicants
contributing to the cost of works where multiple funding streams are being harnessed to resolve a situation