Aberdeenshire Care and Repair

Aberdeenshire Care and Repair provide a free service to owner-occupiers and tenants of private landlords who live within Aberdeenshire, offering advice and assistance with repairs, improvements and adaptations. Clients must be either over 60 and/or have a disability.

The Project now has a one-year residency rule for all aspects of the Service.  However, this may be waived in particular circumstances for disabled adaptations e.g. moving for family support or to more suitable accommodation.

For more detail see the Annual Report 2009/10

Advice & Information

Aberdeenshire Care & Repair now work in conjunction with Aberdeenshire Council to implement their “Statement of Assistance for Private Homeowners and Tenants of Private Landlords”.  Information and advice will be available to all homeowners or private tenants, irrespective of their age, to help them to carry out repairs, maintenance, improvements or adaptations to their homes.  Although no financial assistance is available, we can provide technical advice or details of reliable contractors who are registered with our Preferred Contractors Scheme.

Preferred Contractors List 

Home improvements and repairs

The Project can help with many repairs and improvements, such as:

• Replacing/repairing windows and doors
• Roof repairs and replacement
• Repairing gutters and down-pipes
• Adaptations to the house to suit individual needs in conjunction with the support of a Community Occupational Therapist e.g. level access showers, external ramping, door widening
• Damp proofing; dry/wet rot treatment
• Forming new water supplies

The Project can assist by:

• Discussing what repairs, improvements or adaptations are required
• Obtaining quotations from reputable contractors
• Ensure the work is completed to an acceptable standard
• Assisting with paperwork
• Helping to arrange finance e.g. accessing grant funding; charitable funding; benefit claims.  Grant funding is dependent on criteria set by Aberdeenshire Council.
• Please note that there are no longer Repairs or Improvement grants available from Aberdeenshire Council.  The only grant funding now available is for disabled adaptations.

Affordable Warmth Scheme

Although we are not able to assist with central heating works, we can refer on to other agencies for advice and assistance. e.g. Scottish Executive Energy Assistance Package; Energy Saving Trust – North East; Save Cash and Reduce Fuel (SCARF); Aberdeenshire Energy Efficiency Advice Project (AEEAP).

Small Repairs Service

Due to a cut in funding, we have had to introduce certain restrictions to the Small Repairs Service, as agreed by Aberdeenshire Council and our Advisory Committee:

• Level 1 Service:

Clients who are on agreed passport benefits will be entitled to the subsidised service, where the Project will continue to pay the labour costs and the client will be re-charged for any materials costing £2.00 and over. This service will also be subject to the following criteria:

• Written evidence is provided of benefit entitlement

• The work required is essential

• A maximum of 2 jobs per client are carried out in any year

• The value of the work carried out is below £150 per job

• They have lived in the property for more than 12 months

• Passport benefits will be Guarantee Pension Credit, Income Support and Income Based Employment Support Allowance

• One year residency rule: has been put in place with the exceptions for disabled adaptations if there are good reasons for the client having moved e.g. more suitable accommodation, moving for family support etc.

• Restriction on the number of jobs: to 2 jobs that can be carried out during each financial year for each individual client.

• Restrictions on the type of work: to areas deemed a higher priority in terms of safety, prevention of long-term deterioration of a property or energy efficiency issues.  Some examples of these are:

  • Cleaning out and/or repairs to guttering

  • Roof repairs where there are internal leaks or the possibility of future leaks e.g. slipped or missing slates

  • Leaking doors and windows

  • Leaking taps

  • Repairs to central heating/hot water

  • Fitting smoke alarms

   

• Level 2 Service:

• The Project will arrange for qualified trades people to deal with small repairs and maintenance for clients who are not on any of the passport benefits detailed in Level 1 Service and who are not confident about contacting a contractor themselves.  This service is provided on the following basis –

• Clients will meet the full cost of the work undertaken plus an administration charge of £10.00 per job.

• There will be no restriction on the type or number of jobs done through the service.

• The maximum cost of any job will be £150.00.

• Level 3 Service:

• Clients who are not on passport benefits and are prepared to contact a contractor and arrange the works themselves will be given the name(s) of contactor(s) from the list of preferred contractors. 

Who to contact

If you require assistance from Aberdeenshire Care and Repair, we can be contacted at:

Aberdeenshire Care and Repair
3 Banavie Court
Bridge Street
ELLON
AB41 9LA

Tel : 01358 721672
Fax : 01358 725431