Adapting your home and handyperson schemes

If you have a disability, or mobility problems, making adjustments to your home can enhance your quality of life.

Work we can help with includes:

• handrails
• lever action taps
• half steps
• grab rails
• showers
• ramps
• door alterations
• other small and larger scale works

If you want to improve your home for any other reason please look at the information on home improvements on our repairs and maintenance guide as you will need to request permission to make a change.

Apply for an adaptation

You will need to have an assessment that will be carried out by an occupational therapist. The Nottinghamshire County Council occupational therapist number is 0300 500 8080.

Once an assessment is carried out by an occupational therapist and, once instructed, our housing team will survey and, subject to finances available and economic suitability, will consider carrying out the required work.

There are two types of adaptions we receive from occupational therapist:

• minor – for example level access showers, ramps, door alterations
• major – larger scale works

Once a major adaption has been installed, please note that it will not be removed from the property.

If major alterations are required to your home such as building an extension, we may first consider if a more suitable home is available to meet your needs.

Fast-tracked minor adaptations

We will carry out some minor adaptation requests without needing an OT referral. These fast-track adaptation works are restricted to second stair rails, key safes, lever taps, basic half steps and wall mounted grab rails beside entrance doors. 

To request a fast-track adaptation, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.

How long the works will take

We commit to completing adaptations in the following timescales:

• minor adaptations such as grab rails will be completed within 7 working days after the receipt of the referral
• major adaptations we aim to try and complete in 30 days, but some works may take longer if we have to go to planning or tender works

Handy Person Adaptation Service

The handy person adaptation service provides help with essential minor adaptations and small practical jobs, helping you to live more safely and independently at home.

The service is available to people living in Newark and Sherwood who are either aged 60 or over or disabled.

Examples of jobs which can be carried out range from fitting grab rails and stair rails to putting up shelves and fitting door and window locks.

Find out more about the HPAS service on the Notts Help Yourself website.