Our Home Improvement team helping vulnerable people to stay in their homes

Our Home Improvement Agency (HIA) works to assist disabled, elderly, and vulnerable residents to stay in their homes safely and independently. This is achieved though home assessments by the team, using the various forms of grant assistance which are available and our handyperson service.

Prevention is key and by safeguarding against slips, trips and falls, the works we carry out not only help people feel safe in their home but in turn help to prevent potential hospital admissions and reduce the need to move to a care home.

Our team have had another successful year helping residents with a variety of advice and assistance ranging from fixing a leaking tap to providing a wheelchair accessible bedroom and bathroom extension.

The revised Private Sector Housing Assistance Grants Policy of October 2023 and the promotional work that has been driven forward has had a significant impact on outcomes.

• We have supported 450 residents with the Handyperson service, an increase of 50% to last year’s 300.
• We have also supported 88 residents with DFG and discretionary grants, an increase of 33% to last year.
• Our Epsom & Ewell Boiler Upgrade Grant has to date, replaced 20 boilers for vulnerable residents.

An example of our team's work
Recently, our HIA team received an urgent referral from the Adult Social Care team. It was for a resident who was being released from the hospital but the property needed to be thoroughly cleaned before he could return home.

Under our Hospital to Home Grant, the required work was approved within a day of receiving the referral, and the contractors were instructed to proceed. The resident was able to return to a safe and clean environment to recuperate.

We were able to assist a local team, relieve an NHS bed, and guarantee that the work was completed in an efficient manner for the resident's long-term safety and wellness.

For more information on the Home Improvement Agency, please visit our website Home Improvement Agency | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council