A second stair rail, a tap that turns with a lever instead of a twist, a socket moved up from the skirting board: small changes like these can make a home much easier to live in as needs change. Voltify Contractors provides property maintenance in Barking as part of its documented IG11 coverage, covering plumbing, electrical work, decorating and handyman jobs, including many of the practical adaptations people ask about. This page sets out which changes may help with common difficulties and when it is worth checking council support before paying for the work yourself.
Small changes for common difficulties
Start from what is getting harder, not from a list of products. The right change depends on the person, the room and how the walls are built, so treat this as a guide to discuss rather than a prescription.
| What is getting harder | Changes that may help | Type of work |
|---|---|---|
| Getting in and out of the bath or shower | Grab rails fixed where the hand naturally goes; a fold-down shower seat | Handyman work, with fixings chosen to suit tiled or plasterboard walls |
| Using the stairs | A second handrail so there is support on both sides | Handyman work |
| Turning taps | Lever or easy-turn taps on the basin, sink or bath | Plumbing |
| Reaching low sockets and switches | Sockets moved higher; extra sockets beside a bed or chair so leads are not stretched across the floor | Electrical work |
| Seeing clearly on stairs and in hallways | Brighter light fittings; a switch at both the top and bottom of the stairs | Electrical work |
| Tripping | Securing loose carpet edges and thresholds; removing trailing extension leads | Handyman work, plus electrical work if more sockets are needed |
| Opening doors | Lever handles; adjusting doors that stick or swing shut too hard | Handyman work |
Bigger changes, such as ramps, widened doorways, stairlifts or a level-access shower, are specialist adaptation projects and usually start with an assessment rather than a call-out.
Check Barking and Dagenham Council’s support first
Some residents can get help from the council before paying privately. According to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s equipment and adaptations page:
- a free handyperson service, which includes fitting grab rails and making loose carpets and trailing wires safe, is available to people aged 65 or over, people with a disability or vulnerability, people recently discharged from hospital and those at high risk of falls;
- equipment and adaptations are arranged after an occupational therapy assessment, which you can request through the council;
- homeowners and private tenants can apply for a means-tested Disabled Facilities Grant towards major adaptations, while council tenants’ major adaptations are funded through a different route;
- if you rent, the council will need your landlord’s permission before installing adaptations.
Booking privately makes sense when you are not eligible for those schemes, when you would rather choose the timing yourself, or when adaptations are part of a wider list of jobs around the house. If you rent, ask your landlord’s permission before booking anything that is fixed to the walls.
What to tell us when you book
A few details help the visit go right first time:
- who the changes are for and what they are finding difficult, rather than only the product you have in mind;
- photos of the walls where rails will go, especially if they are tiled or sound hollow when tapped;
- any rails, seats or taps you have already bought, so fixings and fittings can be checked beforehand;
- any occupational therapist’s recommendations, including rail heights and positions.
The work itself is covered by our handyman and property maintenance, plumbing and electrical services. If fitting leaves marks or old fixing holes, the wall can be made good and repainted through our painting and decorating work.
Hours, costs and urgent problems in Barking
Standard working hours are 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday. The documented standard minimum call-out is £80 for the first hour, with the final price depending on the work and materials. For a burst pipe, a leak you cannot stop or a dangerous electrical fault outside those hours, emergency call-outs are available at different pricing. Call 020 3411 1855 or email info@voltifycontractors.co.uk.
Voltify’s IG11 coverage also includes Barking Riverside and Creekmouth. See all areas we cover or the full list of services.
