Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has been appointed to advise the Scottish Government’s pilot Help to Adapt scheme following a competitive tender.

Managed by Link Group, the initiative was established to help older people live independently at home for longer and

The scheme encourages homeowners aged 60 or over to be proactive in adapting their homes to enable their long term independence and quality of life. Uniquely, it helps owners pay for the adaptations, by using the equity in their own home, with the Help to Adapt team organising all the work for them.

To qualify for the scheme you need to: own your own home; have a significant amount of equity in your home and need alterations to your home now or in the near future so you can live independently, or with support, in your own home for as long as possible.

Donal Henretty, residential partner in Shepherd’s Edinburgh office, said: “We have been appointed to carry out the housing valuations for the Help to Adapt scheme to ensure that there is sufficient equity within the properties to carry out adaptations. Typically, any remaining mortgage should be less than 20 per cent of the value of the property.

“We would encourage any home owner aged over 60 to look into this scheme should you want your home to be easier to manage as you get older, wish to avoid the hassle of having to organise works and like the idea of having named professional workers provide advice, assistance and manage the process every step of the way.”

The Scottish Government has appointed Link Group as managing agent to deliver the scheme in the 12 local authority areas: Argyll and Bute; City of Edinburgh; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Falkirk; Glasgow City; North Lanarkshire; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Stirling and West Lothian.