Homeowners in Bristol who are struggling to maintain the condition of their property in the current financial climate are being offered a helping hand by the city council.

A new scheme being launched this month will bring a range of home improvement products to private properties to ensure they are decent, warm and secure.

A number of areas have been identified across the city as 'Home Action Zones' - where quality of life for residents could be made better by improving the housing conditions. The scheme will be piloted firstly to around 1,200 properties in Windmill Hill West and Greenbank and then will move on to other areas.

Officers from the council's private housing renewal unit will visit people living in the two pilot areas from mid-November to assess their property. Private owner-occupiers and private tenants will have access to a range of works including:

• Free improvements to energy efficiency within the home such as loft & cavity wall insulation
• Free fire safety assessment and the fitting of smoke detectors by Avon Fire & Rescue Service
• Home security improvements provided by the Avon & Somerset 'Bobby Van' service
• Access to loans/grants for housing improvements for qualifying households

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Cabinet Member for Homes & Streetscene, Councillor Judith Price, said: "With the cost of food, fuel and energy bills rising and people struggling to pay their mortgages, many people just can't afford to maintain their properties and may be living in increasingly poor conditions.

"Everyone is entitled to live in a decent home, in a safe neighbourhood, and this scheme helps in two ways. Firstly, by making sure residents live in homes that are warm, weatherproof and reasonably modern; and secondly by improving security to reduce burglary and free homeowners from the fear of crime."

(CD/JM)