Housing Association Home Find a Home Your Home About Employment Contact Looking After Your Home If you would like make an application, please use our Aids & Adaptations Form. Enquiry Form Home Your Home Looking after your home The aim of this section is to provide you with information about how to look after your home, what improvements you can make and how CCHA can help you make appropriate adaptions to your home. Making alterations to your home CCHA welcome residents to make the property they rent, their home. Therefore, we understand that residents may want to make some alterations to their property. However, you must not carry out any improvements or alterations to your home without obtaining our prior written consent. Examples of improvements and alterations that you may wish to make to your home include: - Decorating the outside of your home - Altering, adding or removing fixtures and fittings including kitchen and bathroom units, fires and showers - Installing a television aerial or satellite dish - Installing laminate flooring - Removing or altering fencing or external walls (including to create a parking space) - Flagging a garden or yard (or any part of either) - Installing a shed - Anything that affects the structure of your home - Installing external structures, including housing for animals Making improvements Making improvements to your home is subject to you having first obtained our written consent, and all of the other necessary approvals, such as planning permission or building regulation approval, copies of which you will be required to provide to us at your own cost. We will not unreasonably withhold our consent, however we will make it conditional upon the work being carried out to an acceptable standard. Simple repairs We understand that some residents prefer to complete their own basic repairs, for example tightening a door handle. This is acceptable to CCHA as long as the following guidelines are followed. Rules for alterations and simple repairs The simple rules that must be followed to complete alterations or repairs are; 1. The works are carried out by competent/qualified tradesmen. 2. All certification, electrics, gas etc. must be available and all relevant regulations adhered to. 3. Any and all future maintenance/repair costs in respect of this alteration are the responsibility of the tenant. 4. Final approval can only be given once the finished works have been inspected and passed. If the works are not to CCHA’s standard you may be asked to make good or in default of this the Association will make the works good and will then recharge you. 5. In the event of your vacation of the property, unless the incoming tenant is prepared to accept the alteration, the alteration is either:- (a) Removed by you, and the property made good to the Association’s satisfaction; (b) Any fixtures and fittings being the subject of this alteration are removed and replaced with standard fixtures and fittings to the Association’s satisfaction or in default of this the Association will make the works good and will then recharge you. 6. Works may be subject to inspection by a CCHA Property Surveyor. Laminate Flooring If we give you permission to install laminate flooring (whether in a flat or a house), you are agreeing to take it up (at our request), or allow us to take it up, if we need to do so to inspect or carry out work to your home. If we take it up, we will not be responsible for refitting it, making good or replacing it. Aids & Adaptations CCHA is committed to meeting the needs of its residents to support where practicable, independent living in their homes with privacy and dignity for as long as possible. CCHA will in providing this service consider the adequacy of the accommodation in relation to the individual, along with the nature of the particular property in order to maintain the value of the property/asset to the association. Applications can be received from Occupational Therapists, GPs or directly from a customer or their appointed representative, in writing. The CCHA Adaptations Team will assess the application on an individual basis in relation to the tenancy, and property in question, to allow us to deliver a high-quality service to our residents. Each application is then categorised into either a minor or major adaptation request. Minor adaptations Minor adaptations are generally discreet and not a fundamental change to the building fabric or structure. Examples include the fitting of: - grab rails - lever taps - handrails These adaptation applications, if agreed, are funded by CCHA and will usually be raised as a 21-day timescale job and carried out by a local CCHA partner contractor, by appointment. Major adaptations Major adaptations are more significant. They affect the nature of the property and require design and specification by a qualified assessor or Occupational Therapist. Examples include: - level access showers - ramps - stairlifts - wet rooms These works are usually funded by a Disability Funding Grant (DFG) administered by the Local Authority. All applications for major adaptations must be supported by an Occupational Therapist Referral which determines whether, or not, the adaptation is necessary and appropriate. All referrals, once received by CCHA, are fully assessed (type of property, suitability for adaptation, tenancy history and alternative accommodation options), and if agreed, will be forwarded to the Local Authority who will generally arrange and supervise the works. All enquiries and referrals should be made to either adaps@castlesandcoasts.co.uk or by completing this form. CCHA will not normally consider any major adaptation applications where: - the occupancy is temporary in nature - the resident has moved into the property in the knowledge that it is unsuitable for their needs - loft extensions - through floor lifts - scooter stores - additional or specific parking facilities This list is not exhaustive and each application will be considered on an individual basis. Aids & Adaptations Form If you would like to make an Aids & Adaptations enquiry, please use our designated form. Enquiry Form Preparing for flooding Flooding affects many parts of the UK. There are lots of things you can do to prepare for a flood if you live in an affected area. We have created this new video on what to do in the event of a flood. It gives general information about how residents can protect themselves in the case of a flood. We have also created a simple lleaflet, which you can find below. If you live in a CCHA property, which has previously flooded, we will already have met you to discuss your individual Evacuation Plans. We also recommend, if you live in an area prone to flooding, that you sign up to the Environment Agency Flood Warnings System, which is a free service. Call: 0345 988 1188 or visit their website using the link below. CCHA Flood Leaflet Environment Agency Home Contents Insurance We work in cooperation with the Northern Housing Consortium to promote an affordable home contents policy. To apply, please use the application form below. You can also contact the insurance provider directly on 0345 671 8172. Simple - Household Contents Insurance Application Form Insurance Product Information Looking after your home Making alterations to your home Aids & Adaptations Aids & Adaptations Form Flooding Home Contents Insurance For any enquiries or questions please Contact Us Accessibility Terms & Conditions Equality & Diversity Privacy Policy Copyright © Castles & Coasts Housing Association 2021 Registered Office: 3 Paternoster Row,Carlisle,Cumbria,CA3 8TT