Practical Assistance
There are a number of ways we can assist you. Some are practical and some are financial;
- Who is eligible for assistance with repairs and improvements?
- What is a Repairing Responsibility?
- How do I access general maintenance and repairs advice?
- How do I access assistance with major repairs?
- Additional services for people aged 65 or over and for people with a disability;
- Minor Repairs - The Handyperson Service
- Major Repairs - The Care and Repair Service
- How do I access financial assistance with my repair and improvement works?
- Will I always get exactly what I want?
- How do I access assistance with Communal Works?
- Landlords
- Further assistance available outwith Highland Council
Who is eligible for assistance with repairs and improvements?
- Homeowners, shared equity homeowners, and private tenants with a repairing responsibility can access assistance with Repairs and Improvements
- If you are a council tenant go to the Equipment and Adaptations page
- I rent from a Housing Association
What is a Repairing Responsibility?
- Some private tenancies have what is known as a Repairing Responsibility. This means that the tenant is generally responsible for repairs and maintenance of their rented property and this most often applies for long term tenancies and life rents. These tenants qualify for assistance under the Scheme of assistance
- The majority of short assured tenancies do not have a repairing responsibility and your responsibilities should have been made clear to you when you signed for your tenancy. If you are in any doubt about which sort of tenancy you have, you should check your agreement or contact your landlord or agent. We cannot use the Scheme of Assistance to help tenants whose Landlords should be maintaining and repairing the property on your behalf.
- If your landlord should be maintaining and repairing your property and is failing to do so, you can contact the Private Rented Housing Panel for help. They are an independent Panel with responsibility for dealing with repair or rent disputes between Landlords and Tenants in the Private Sector.
How do I access general maintenance and repairs advice?
In the first instance the Highland Council has produced a series of leaflets designed to give general information and advice on how best to maintain your home, what to look for, and how to remedy problems with disrepair. These leaflets are available online and also from a number of public places including your local Service Point. The Scheme is based on the idea that whilst the Highland Council can offer practical and financial assistance, this assistance is targeted towards the most severe disrepair on the understanding that the property’s owner(s) should in the main take responsibility for their repairs.
If you want to look at the available leaflets, you can go to your nearest Service Point. |
How do I access assistance with major repairs?
The Highland Council Technical Officer Team are available to assist with tackling major problems with disrepair. Generally speaking, the areas the Technical officers are most able to assist are with problems such as:
- Structural Instability
- Dampness
- Rot and Structural Infestation
- Drainage Problems
- Electrical Problems
- Missing Amenities
- Toilet
- Kitchen or Bathroom Sink
- Bath or Shower
Please note – missing amenities will only be considered if being installed for the first time. We will not replace damaged items or items which have been removed.
The usual route to assistance with repairs and improvements is to register your enquiry with the local Technical Officer who will then contact you to offer further advice or signposting to help you with your problem or, where relevant, refer you on to other services or agencies for help. Find my Local Technical Officer
The Technical Officer may arrange a home visit where necessary to inspect the property and can also assess eligibility for further assistance, including financial assistance.
Additional services for people aged 65 or over and for people with a disability
Minor Repairs
The Handyperson Service is in place to assist applicants aged 65 and over, or any age with a disability with both minor adaptations and minor repairs. The Service can be contacted directly, without the need for an assessment.
I want to know more
Major Repairs
The Care and Repair Service is in place to assist applicants aged 65 or over, or any age with a disability with carrying out both major adaptations and major repairs. There are Local Agents across Highland who are in place to help if you have been assessed for a major adaptation, or have eligible repair works and need assistance with applying for funding and finding a contractor. I want to know more
How do I access financial assistance with my repair and improvement works?
- We can assess you for grant assistance to pay for the cost of eligible repairs and improvements. I want to know more
- The Highland Council Income and Maximisation Team can make sure that you are claiming all that you are entitled to.
Will I always get exactly what I want?
You may not always get the repair you want. This might be for a number of reasons, including:
- Your needs are not assessed as the highest priority for repairs assistance.
- Your current home is not able to meet your long term housing needs, for example, the level of disrepair is so great that it is reasonable to assume that the property will not be significantly improved by the level of assistance we can offer
- If you are unlikely to be able to continue living in your current home in the future, alternatives can be discussed with you including transferring to more suitable housing.
I want to know more about Housing Options
How do I access assistance with Communal Works?
We can help with Communal Works – works which you and your neighbours are jointly responsible for, such as in blocks of flats, or terraced and semi-detached houses which share roofs, walls, stairways, drainage and outside space. I want to know more
Landlords
- Landlord Registration. Since April 2006, all private landlords in Scotland are required to register with their Local Authority
- Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) Mandatory licensing of HMO’s was introduced in October 2000. A licence is required for every dwelling where three or more people live who are not all members of one family, or of one or the other of two families
Repairs
Landlords are not eligible for financial assistance with repairs under the scheme although they are eligible for advice, information and signposting.
Adaptations
- We can help Landlords with the cost of reinstating their property if it has been adapted for a tenant.
- Landlords may claim up to a maximum value of £3,000 towards the essential costs.
- The adaptation must have been undertaken via the Highland Council’s Scheme of Assistance adaptation process (adaptations that have been made privately will not be considered)
- Works are based on the minimum required to reinstate.
- The specification will not exceed the benchmark level specified for adaptation works.