Leicestershire Handyperson Scheme

About the Scheme.

The Private Housing team is pleased to announce that Charnwood now forms part of the county wide Leicestershire Handyperson Scheme, run by Mears Home Improvements Ltd

Who Is the Service For?

Applicants must be 60 or over.

Is There Any Charge?

If you receive a means tested benefit such as Guaranteed Pension Credit or Council Tax benefit, the service is free of charge.

A means tested benefit is assessed by taking into account the claimant's circumstances, capital and income. Each means tested benefit has its own qualifying rules. If you are unsure as to what you receive, you can contact the Pension Service on 0845 6060265.

For other applicants, the charges are as follows a basic hourly rate of £18.56 + VAT per hour charge is made for each call out for applicants not in receipt of a means tested benefit.

What About Materials?

Materials must be provided for by all applicants (regardless of if you receive a means tested benefit).
If you already have the items required, such as shelves, new taps or decorating materials, there is no charge. If you are unable to purchase materials, they can be supplied and you would be charged the cost price + 10% + VAT

Is There Any Limit to the Amount of Times I Can Use the Scheme?

For applicants on a means tested benefits, a maximum of 2 free 3 hour visits can be made each year.

For applicants who pay for the service, a maximum 3 hour slot at a time is allocated and an unlimited amount of visits can be made each year.

What Sort of Work Can I Have Done?

No job is too small and all works are carried out by a highly skilled handyperson technician. All staff are CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked.

The types of jobs that can be done are:-

• Door and window repairs or adjustments( such as latch repairs)
• Minor joinery work(such as repairs to internal doors and frames)
• Minor plumbing work (such as repair a tap or replace a washer)
• Assistance with electrical items (such as changing bulbs, plugs or batteries in smoke alarms)
• Repairs to fences & gates
• Emptying loft spaces where new insulation is required
• Assembling flat pack furniture or putting up shelving
• Carrying out a home safety check

What to Do Next

If you have a job that needs doing, or if you want to discuss other services that are not listed , contact the scheme on 0845 6017822.