Sunderland Care and Support commissions the Handyperson Service from Community Sustainability Services (CSS), who are a charitable, not-for-profit organisation supporting local vulnerable people.
The service provides small fitting, repair and maintenance jobs in and around your home at a reduced cost. The service does not provide work considered to be the responsibility of the registered landlord or offered through a scheme delivered by the landlord.
Who is eligible to use the Handyperson Service?
To use the service, you must:
- Be over 60, disabled, or vulnerable
- Be unable to carry out the work yourself
- Be unable to finance the works privately
- Not have friends or family who are able to complete the works on your behalf
What are the charges for the service
- Small jobs are priced at £10, however if works are likely to last more than 4 hours, the person will inform you of the specific price for the work you have requested
- You are responsible for sourcing and paying for materials. If you cannot collect them, the Handyperson may assist for an extra charge
What kind of work does the service do?
Examples of works provided include:
Inside the home
- Replacing light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
- Changing lampshades
- Changing plugs and fuses
- Trimming and fixing a loose carpet to make it safe
- Moving small pieces of furniture within the home
- Erecting shelves
- Putting up curtain rails and curtains
- Changing curtains
- Fitting draught excluders
- Unblocking sinks
- Fitting telephone extension leads
- Moving or hanging pictures/mirrors
- Replacing toilet seats
- Securing trailing or loose wires
- Fitting door chains/bolts/locks
- Fitting battery-operated smoke alarms
- Fitting door spy-holes viewers
- Fitting window locks
Outside of the home
- Fitting battery-operated doorbells
- Repairing or erecting a washing line
- Fitting grab rails/handrails
- Clearing snow from paths and spreading rock salt
Does the Handyperson Service offer gardening?
- The Handyperson offers a basic grass cut and hedge trim, dependent on the height of the hedge
- The service is seasonal, usually February to October (weather dependent)
- The service is not available to tenants where the landlord offers gardening
- The service does not dispose of grass cuttings and will put these in the customer's brown bin or bag and leave them at the property if there is no brown bin available
What kind of work will the service not do?
- Any electrical work other than replacing plugs or fuses
- Any work connected with the supply of gas
- Painting and decorating
- Plastering
- Fitting or repairing central heating
- Mending washing machines/boilers/cookers or TV's or any other appliance
- Any work connected with the roofs of buildings more than one storey high
- Any work on greenhouses or conservatories
- Any job requiring the heavy use of equipment other than small drills and essential electrical equipment to complete tasks
How can I access the service?
- To access the service, call 0191 520 5552 between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
- Once your eligibility to receive the service has been established, you will be referred for assistance
Can multiple jobs be carried out?
- Multiple jobs can be carried out for a single fee if this will take less than four hours
- Multiple jobs that take longer than four hours will be priced individually
How is payment made?
- Payments should be made in cash on the day directly to the handyperson
How long will it take to receive this service?
- CSS will make contact within 5 working days of receiving the referral and will arrange a date to carry out the works
- CSS aims to complete jobs within 3 weeks from the date of referral, but this can vary depending on the level of demand on the service
What if the work I require is not offered by this service?
- Where the works are not included within the discounted service, CSS may be able to provide a private quote and they can be contacted on 0191 549 9554
- The Home Improvement Agency can provide a list of accredited contractors or may refer you to another agency if appropriate
