The Home Improvement Agency (HIA)

Am I eligible for the support from the HIA? 

To access the HIA, you will need to meet the eligibility criteria. 

You must be:

• a vulnerable older adult who has care and support needs or at risk of developing such needs
• a person identified at risk of trips and falls in or around the home
• a person being discharged from hospital
• a vulnerable person who is victim of crime
• a person who requires the installation of sensory loss equipment as requested by the council's Sensory Loss Team

Services HIA provide

Minor Adaptions Service

Our team works in partnership with Children's and Adult Social Care Services to install minor adaptations and sensory loss equipment around the home such as:

• grabrails
• banisters
• handrails

We also provide a hospital discharge service to help you return home after a hospital stay. 

We provide urgent and routine minor adaptations and simple fixings to ensure safe and independent living.

If you need a care and support assessment to access minor adaptions service, contact the First Contact Team:

• telephone: 01642 527764 
• email: FirstContactAdults@stockton.gov.uk 

Handyperson Service

We provide help with low level DIY type jobs that will reduce accidents, falls and unnecessary hospital admissions. Clients who are eligible will be allowed two free labour hours within a 6 month period.

You can contact the Home Improvement Agency directly:

• telephone: 01642 526904
• email: HIA@stockton.gov.uk

How to apply

Professionals, residents and their representatives can make an application using our online form.

Apply for Home Improvement Agency support

Modular steel access solutions

Stockton Home Improvement Agency (HIA) installs Modular steel access solutions at the homes of residents following an assessment of need for equipment at their properties. Solutions such as:

• steel handrails
• platform step units
• walking handrails          

The installed access solutions remain the property of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

Home Improvement Agency (HIA) Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Home Improvement Agency are:

• to provide, install, and maintain the equipment
• to reserves the right to decline maintenance or replacement of equipment where damage is found to be intentional

Resident responsibilities

The responsibilities of the resident are:

• to report any faults with the equipment to HIA as soon as possible
• not to deliberately damage or misuse the equipment
• contact to arrange removal of equipment when no longer needed

Customer experience survey

Have you recently had work carried out at your home by the Stockton-on-Tees Home Improvement Agency?

We are committed to improving our standards of service where possible, and therefore would welcome your feedback on the recent work.

 Complete the Stockton-on-Tees HIA customer experience survey

Other support available