Lending a hand

Feeling safe and secure in our homes is something most of us take for granted, but for vulnerable tenants across the country, not being able to fix small jobs around the house can leave them feeling isolated and defenceless.

Together with Sheffield Council, repairs and maintenance provider Kier Services — which carries out repairs and maintenance to around 42,000 homes and council municipal buildings in Sheffield — undertook research early last year which revealed many tenants are reluctant to call out repairs staff for smaller jobs in their home that they cannot manage themselves, and which would not be reported as general repairs.

As a result, the partnership introduced a handyperson service in the east, south west and north west of Sheffield in February to help the city council’s tenants aged over 60, as well as anyone with disabilities or severe health problems. More than 25,000 Sheffield tenants are over-60 and nearly 5,000 have a known disability or severe health problem, making them eligible for the service.

Developed as a joint initiative and driven by the local authority’s housing service and Harry Harpham, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods, tenants in Sheffield were consulted from the start and asked to help shape the handyperson service to ensure their needs would be met.

Fast response
Available city-wide by the end of the current financial year, the service complements the existing repairs and maintenance service delivered by Kier, and provides help for tenants with a special fast-track response to deal with smaller jobs around the home which they may find difficult to carry out themselves.

Two handypeople work on behalf of Kier to carry out jobs including hanging pictures, fitting shelves and checking smoke alarms.

Jobs are reported by the customer to the repairs call centre in the same way as a normal repair. Once it has been confirmed that the customer is eligible for the handyperson service, an appointment is made. The job is forwarded to a handyperson via their mobile device and they then go to do the work that needs to be done.

The scheme ensures the safety of vulnerable tenants and keeps homes attractive and in good condition, which in turn makes tenants more comfortable and therefore more likely to maintain their tenancy.

By ensuring tenants’ safety, they are also less likely to need access to other high-demand, care-related services and accommodation.

The service has so far helped 500 Sheffield Council tenants, who now have people who they know and trust to come into their homes to carry out repairs in a friendly and helpful way.

This is not just a standard service; it provides a reassuring helping hand for tenants who need it most. Kier and Sheffield’s council housing service regularly consult residents and have carried out more than 70 surveys in Sheffield since February.

With the most recent in November reporting 100 per cent customer satisfaction with the service, the partnership knows how valuable and successful the initiative is for those who use it.

We are unable to provide details of the cost of the handyperson service as it is still in its pilot stage. Costs and benefits will be fully understood after the scheme goes city-wide.

Sheffield residents can rest assured that come what may this winter, the handyperson service is there to help, no matter how big or small the job.

Phil Oades is regional operations director at Kier Sheffield