London Rebuilding Society Provides Hope For Homeowners In Distress

LONDON, September 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- An estimated 76,000 people in London do not have an indoor toilet or bathroom. Thousands more live in homes that lack heating or are in serious disrepair.

The Government's Decent Homes scheme works to improve rented accommodation, but there is no such scheme for people who own their own home.

This has left many elderly people unable to maintain their home to a decent standard. People who have worked their whole lives to buy their home, and now survive on just a state pension, have no hope of being able to carry out the repairs or modifications that their home needs to sustain their independence.

71-year-old Mrs. Mason (not her real name) is one such person. She is the proud owner of a one-bedroom flat above a hairdresser in Redbridge. However, her health has recently deteriorated and she suffers from impaired hearing, dizziness and severe arthritis.

She finds it difficult to use the bath, struggles to get up the stairs and is at risk of a serious fall. She can't afford to repair the damage left by a recent water leak. She is also in constant fear of the gangs that congregate in the alleyway by her gate. With just a state pension and no family there is little that Mrs. Mason can do to change her situation.

This is where London Rebuilding Society comes in. London Rebuilding Society is a social enterprise, which provides a Home Improvement Scheme specifically for vulnerable people and those on a low income. It works using an equitable mortgage, giving homeowners access to credit without repayments or interest.

Working with other care organisations, London Rebuilding Society makes sure that the homeowner's financial, housing and healthcare needs are met. They not only fund the works, but also manage the whole process, using approved contractors and guaranteeing the quality of work.

Mrs. Mason now has a new bathroom, a new kitchen, a walk-in shower and a stairlift. Her gate has been repositioned, while a video entry phone provides added security. Her home is now fit for her to live in for many more years and, while London Rebuilding Society has a percentage interest in the equity, Mrs Mason has nothing to pay until she chooses to sell.

The society can be contacted by calling +44(0)20-7330-0715 or at http://www.londonrebuilding.com.

SOURCE London Rebuilding Society