grants for a pensioner who owns home

minx_101

Hi, hope this is the right foum to post this thread. Looking advice about grants for a pensioner to help him make improvements to his home. My elderly uncle is 76 and owns his home which he bought from the council several years ago. It needs a few improvements new kitchen units, windows doors etc as they are in quite bad shape. He has a gas cooker but no extractor fan. He currently receives pension credit and is on low rate Dla for a back poblem. I would like to help him but don't know where to start. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

minx_101

Hi, I would like to find out about this also, but don't really know who would have information about this sort of thing or who deals with it. My uncle has owned the house for 10 years, and it is quite run down, he also doesn't have any savings. I would like for him to live a bit more comfortably. He would need a new bath/ toilet etc also and possibly a toilet downstairs There are also draughts coming in through the windows and doors etc. As he lives on his own and doesnt have an extractor fan over his cooker I get quite worried sometimes, but this would all need rewiring etc

Dognobs

http://www.houseproud.org.uk/

BargainGalore

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Errata

minx_101 wrote: »

Hi, hope this is the right foum to post this thread. Looking advice about grants for a pensioner to help him make improvements to his home. My elderly uncle is 76 and owns his home which he bought from the council several years ago. It needs a few improvements new kitchen units, windows doors etc as they are in quite bad shape. He has a gas cooker but no extractor fan. He currently receives pension credit and is on low rate Dla for a back poblem. I would like to help him but don't know where to start. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Why does it need new kitchen units - are they falling off the wall? Why are the windows and doors in bad shape? If he bought several years ago he's had several years to maintain and replace, and if he bought when they were in bad shape he knew then that he would have to do something about them; did he choose not to?

minx_101

dont think an extension would apply to him as he lives on his own, but he would need improvements inside and out with the doors/windows bathroom kitchen etc He lives in N.Ireland so don't think the houseproud website would apply to him. He has lived in the house for over 39 years so quite a bit of work would need to be done.

ian_duncan_smith

My mum is on disability, in a recent copy of the motability magazine there was an ad/article about an organisation that helps carry out repairs. If you source/pay for the materials they provide the labour. Unfortunately can't remember the name.

savemoney

I agree I always lived in old house 1890 Victorian terraced and now a 3 bedroom 1920's semi. I maintain what I can last year it was painting house rendering and guttering, facia did that myself fair enough not everyone can do that, I saved around 1k. I had roof ridge tiles replaced as many had blown and some tiles costs £600. I put money aside for any works I dont have a huge income myself

I never had chance to get a council house or get one cheap so I pay market rate, I still have to pay for maintenance as do people who got a house cheap

If you dont maintain a property if could costs far more in log run and also insurance may not cover you if you have it as they say you didnt maintain your property properly its down to wear and tear

margaretclare wrote: »

Probably yes.

In my experience, houses need constant attention if they're not to become shabby, uncared-for-looking and all the fabric of the house start to degenerate and fall apart.

I've lived in this 1930s bungalow for 21 years and in that time there hasn't been one year when it hasn't had something done to repair/update/maintain it, whether inside or outside.

Do you mean to say that in 39 years he hasn't done a darned thing?

Dollardog

Wow, what nasty replies there are on this thread. I own my own house which was left to me, I had looked after my dad with Alzheimers for several years and had to give up a good job. I am still working but don't earn much money. My house needs a lot doing to it, its probably a lot worse than the OP's uncle's house, I would love to be able to maintain it, love to have jobs done every year, love to put money aside to do those jobs, but unfortunaltely, don't have that money available because I struggle on, trying to keep myself without claiming any benefits. Please don't condemn people for not having kept their houses well maintained, whether they bought them 'cheap' or not. Its alright having a house, but sometimes they are more of a burden than an asset.

savemoney

They are no nasty replies you gave your opinion as do others

minx_101

I totally agree. The house hasn't been maintained for a long time, as he just couldn't afford to carry out the repairs needed. I am trying to help him out, and just need some advice on who I should ask for help for him, as he is a pensioner and can't look about this for himself. Would age concern or organisations that help older people on their own know of anywhere that could give advice