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Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Home Improvement Agency


A Home Improvement Agency (HIA) is a not for profit organisation. It helps homeowners or private sector tenants who are elderly, disabled or on low incomes to repair, maintain or adapt their homes.

A HIA offers practical assistance to the householder. It manages the relationship between the householder and contractors to ensure that scheduled work is value for money and meets the householder's and our requirements. For more information Contact Home Improvement Agency.

The service is intended to take away the anxiety and stress associated with organising and having building works carried out to your home. 

In general a HIA can help with:

  • preparing funding applications for a Disabled Facilities Grant
  • drawing up technical specifications and plans and getting work estimates
  • preparing work schedules and obtaining approval for works
  • overseeing approved Disabled Facilities Grant and Home Improvement Loan Scheme work

For a small fee, anyone requiring works or adaptations, who do not qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant or Home Improvement Loan, can also use this service. If you'd like more information on our fee paying service Contact Home Improvement Agency.

All work is carried out by contractors from an approved list.



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