Home repairs and adaptations: who can help
Last reviewed: June 2026
Staying in the home you know and love often comes down to a few practical changes, whether that is a grab rail by the step, a walk-in shower, or simply getting a repair done by someone you can trust. The encouraging news is that there is real help available, including grants towards bigger adaptations, free aids after an assessment, and good ways to find a reliable tradesperson. This page explains who can help across Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire, and how to go about it.
Small changes that make a big difference
Many of the things that help most are small: a grab rail, a handrail on the stairs, a raised toilet seat, a key safe, or a little half-step to make a doorway easier. Bigger adaptations, such as a ramp, a stairlift, a walk-in shower or a downstairs toilet, can make an enormous difference too, helping you stay safe, independent and comfortable in your own home. Our guides on staying independent at home and staying steady on your feet have more on the everyday aids that help.
Start with an assessment
The way to get the right help is to ask for an assessment by an occupational therapist, which is free. They will visit, look at how you manage from day to day, and recommend what would genuinely make life easier. To arrange one, call Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190. Smaller aids and pieces of equipment, generally those costing under £1,000, can usually be provided free of charge on loan once the assessment has been done.
Help paying for bigger adaptations: the Disabled Facilities Grant
For larger works, there is a grant called the Disabled Facilities Grant. It is provided by your district or borough council, whether Chesterfield, Bolsover or North East Derbyshire, and can pay towards essential adaptations such as ramps, stairlifts and level-access showers, up to a maximum of £30,000. The process begins with the same occupational therapist assessment through Call Derbyshire, and the council then takes the recommendation forward. For adults, the grant is means-tested, so how much you receive depends on your income and savings, and in some cases it covers the full cost of the work. It is well worth pursuing, as it can make an otherwise unaffordable adaptation possible.
If you rent your home
If you rent, you can still apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant, although you will need your landlord's permission for the work. If you are a council or housing association tenant, it is best to speak to your housing provider first, as they often arrange adaptations themselves, or may be able to offer you a home that has already been adapted. And do remember that general repairs, such as a leaking roof or a broken boiler, are your landlord's responsibility, not yours.
Getting repairs and jobs done safely
When it comes to repairs and private work, a little care saves a great deal of worry. Never agree to work on the doorstep, and always get a few written quotes before deciding. To find someone reliable, look for a trader approved through Trading Standards' Buy With Confidence scheme, or one registered with TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality mark. Our guide on cold callers and bogus officials has more on steering clear of rogue traders.
Home improvement agencies and handyperson help
You do not have to manage all of this on your own. Some district councils work alongside a home improvement agency, which can help older and disabled homeowners through the whole process, from arranging the work to dealing with the paperwork. For smaller odd jobs around the home, a local handyperson scheme may be able to help. Your district council, or Call Derbyshire, can tell you what is available in your area.
If a grant does not cover everything
Where a grant falls short, or does not quite apply to your situation, there may be other help. Some charities and benevolent funds offer grants towards home repairs and adaptations, particularly for people who have worked in certain trades or served in the forces. Turn2Us can help you search for grants you might be eligible for, and Independent Age has helpful factsheets on adapting your home.
Keeping warm as well as safe
If your home is hard to heat, improvements such as insulation or a more efficient boiler can help, and there may be grant help towards these too. Our guide on help with heating and energy bills explains what is available.
Where to get help, locally and nationally
Close to home, across Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire:
- Call Derbyshire, on 01629 533190, to arrange a free occupational therapist assessment for equipment or adaptations.
- Your district or borough council (Chesterfield Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, or North East Derbyshire District Council), which administers the Disabled Facilities Grant.
- Your housing provider, if you rent from the council or a housing association.
Across the country:
- Buy With Confidence, at buywithconfidence.gov.uk, and TrustMark, at trustmark.org.uk, to find a reliable, checked tradesperson.
- Turn2Us, at turn2us.org.uk, to search for grants you may be entitled to.
- Independent Age, on 0800 319 6789, for free advice and factsheets on adapting your home.