Home Improvement Agency - Disabled Facilities Grants

In order to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) we require an assessment of the applicant's needs to be made by an Occupational Therapist (OT) in order to determine what (if any) adaptations to their home are necessary. The normal route for DFG applications is via referals from OTs to ourselves, and therefore if you have not already spoken to an OT about your needs then please contact them on 01234 718006. Once an OT has carried out their assessment they will send to us details of what adaptions are necessary. It is at this point that you can decide whether or not to take advantage of the Mid Beds DC Home Improvement Agency.  

In order to apply for a DFG, applicants will need (if not using the agency service) to complete an application form, a certificate of future occupation, a financial means test and provide proof of ownership if they are a home owner.  They will also need to obtain two or three estimates covering the necessary works, depending on the costs. Some applicants may be confident enough to carry out such tasks, or may have a friend or relative who will assist them but if not, we would like to offer the services of the Mid Beds DC Home Improvement Agency.   

The Home Improvement Agency has been established with the sole aim of assisting elderly, disabled or low income households with their applications for grant aid.  In return for providing this service the agency charges a fee of 14% of the cost of works and in all but a very few cases, this will also be funded by the grant for which they are applying, leaving them with no additional expenditure.

Please note that applicants are under no obligation to use the agency.  They can, as an alternative, handle the application process themselves employing independent surveyors, architects etc as necessary. The council are able to provide a list of professionals who are known to have supervised grant funded schemes in the past or alternatively can be obtained from the Yellow Pages. 

DFG advert

Eligibility Criteria and Conditions for Housing Grants

Further information about the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) can be viewed below.:  

 

What will the Home Improvement Agency do for me?

If the applicant decides to use the agency then a dedicated agency officer will assess with the OT what needs to be done to adapt your home, prepare a schedule of work and then ask one of our approved contractors to provide an estimate.

While this is being done our Agency Administrator will visit the home of the applicant to assist them in completing the extensive grant application paperwork and, where necessary will confirm the ownership of the property through Land Registry (if the property is registered).   

The agency officers will ensure that the application is dealt with swiftly and approved with the minimum of delays.

Can I choose my own builder and still use the Agency?

Unfortunately not. As the agency is required to maintain insurance cover of over £1,000,000 we can only supervise schemes using our own approved contractors.

How good are the contractors?

The agency maintains a small list of contractors who are chosen for their expertise in particular areas of work e.g. stairlifts, heating engineers, bathroom adaptations and general construction work.  Each contractor is carefully monitored and before they are allowed onto our approved list we check their insurance details, their bank references and of course the quality of their work.  Prices are regularly compared to ensure that applicants receive value for money and that they maximise the benefit from receiving the grant. 

What happens next if I agree to use the Agency?

If your case has already been referred to us by an OT then we will have sent you two forms, one to accept the agency to work on your behalf, and one to decline the option of the agency. If you did not receive these forms or have mislaid them then they can be downloaded ready to be printed off, completed and returned to us by clicking on the above links.

If you return the form confirming you wish the agency to act on your behalf we will arrange a suitable appointment/s to discuss the proposed works with you, work through the forms to complete your application, and inspect your home to ensure that the works are practicable. Soon afterwards a contractor will call to price the work, and will be able to discuss with you what the works involve, when they might be able to start, and how long they will take.

What happens next if I don't want to use the Agency?

If you choose not to use the agency the Council will still deal with your case swiftly. They will send all the necessary paperwork to you together with a specification of works which will enable you to obtain your own estimates to undertake the work.

How does the Agency Contractor get paid?

If you decide to use the agency, we act on your behalf, and will handle all payments for the work undertaken.  Depending upon the type of works, your agency officer will carry out regular inspections and when appropriate he/she will authorise payments to the contractor.

What if I'm not happy?

Despite everyone’s best efforts sometimes things go wrong or don’t turn out quite as you expected.  In this unlikely event, contact your agency officer at the earliest opportunity.  We will be employed by you and are there for your benefit.  We will discuss your concerns with the contractor ensuring that the contract is completed in a safe, efficient and competent manner to the satisfaction of all. Our contractors are expected to provide an exceptional service, they should provide adequate dust sheets to protect your furniture and fittings and will be expected to carry out reasonable amounts of removal work to allow the job to proceed efficiently.  They are used to working in occupied houses and must leave them safe, clean and tidy at the end of each day.

Are there any other safeguards?

Once works are underway, you may wish to ask the contractor to undertake  additional works which are not grant aided.  There is nothing to prevent you from arranging this but you must inform the agency first otherwise you may breach the conditions of the contract leaving you with less protection.

Our Guarantee

Our agency contractors have many years experience of undertaking grant aided works and we think we have thought of everything to ensure the job is completed smoothly.  Shortly after the grant has been paid off, you will be sent a customer satisfaction survey which will ask how the job went, how the contractor performed and how the agency performed.  Please take the time to fill in the questionnaire so that we can continue to improve for the benefit of future clients.

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