Looking after your home
Contents
- help with housework
- find local services
- equipment and gadgets
- keep your home warm and energy efficient
- make your home safer and easier to use
Finding it hard to keep your home clean, safe or warm?
You can get help with housework, small repairs, home adaptations and energy costs. Trusted local services can also help with equipment, safety improvements and finding reliable tradespeople. This page explains what support is available and how to find it.
Help with housework
If you're finding it hard to keep your home clean, support is available to help you stay independent.
This is called home help or domestic support. It’s different from personal care, but you can get both.
Find local services
Use this website to find local help to look after your home.
You can:
- search by keyword, like cleaning, gardening or handyperson
- enter your postcode
- use filters to narrow results – on a desktop, these are on the left. On a mobile, they appear at the top
Equipment and gadgets
Simple tools can help you move safely and do tasks at home. These include things like grab rails, walking trolleys and reachers.
The home equipment finder
Use the home equipment finder to search for helpful products based on your needs.
You can:
- search by room or area, like kitchen or outside
- choose your needs, like falls or mobility, or dementia and memory loss
- search by product type, like household appliances, or walking aids
Find trusted tradespeople
If you want to find your own trader, use trusted sources to stay safe.
Trading Standards approved businesses
To find Trading Standards approved businesses check:
- Finding the right trader from Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards
- the UKTSA website which helps you find trusted Trading Standards approved businesses
Help to keep your home warm and energy efficient
If you're worried about heating or energy bills, support is available.
Visit Surrey County Council's Home Energy Support for Residents page to:
- check what help is available
- use the Energy Advice Tool
- find local schemes and funding
- get tips on reducing energy use and staying warm
Money help for your home
If you're worried about heating or repairs, support is available.
Citizens Advice can help you explore:
- benefits you may be entitled to
- grants like the Winter Fuel Payment
The SOLLA (Society of Later Life Advisors) can help you find a financial adviser who specialises in later life planning.
Make your home safer and easier to use
Adaptations are changes to your home that make doing tasks safer and easier. These can be simple or major.
Simple adaptations
Simple adaptations include adding grab rails, small ramps, half steps and rails by your front door. Your local council may offer help through handyperson schemes. Some works may be free, especially those that prevent falls.
Major adaptations
Major adaptations are more complicated and will often mean a change to the structure of your home. This could include things like changing your kitchen so it is easier to use, or widening doorways so a wheelchair can fit through.
You may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant.
See Major adaptations to your home