Self Funding

Money Helper

Money Helper provides advice and information of how to pay for home improvements, including the pros and cons of paying for works yourself.

Visit the Money Helper website for more information on how to:

Set a budget and compare tradespeople
Decide on the best way to pay for your improvements
Choose the right type of finance

To help manage for money, use the free and easy-to-use Money Helper Budget Planner.

Cancelling building or decorating works

Citizens Advice also provides information on what to do if you want to cancel building or redecorating work.

Visit the Citizens Advice website for more information on Cancelling building or decorating work

Buildings insurance

Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home if it is damaged or destroyed.

Buildings insurance typically covers things like:

Your home being damaged due to fire, flood or natural disaster
Theft and vandalism
Damaged caused by frozen or bust water pipes
Damage caused by falling trees
Subsidence (when the ground beneath your property sinks)

If you are buying your home with a mortgage you will usually be required to take out buildings insurance.

If you rent your home, your landlord will usually be responsible for taking out buildings insurance, although you may be responsible for any damage to the property’s fixtures and fittings. Sometimes, this will be covered by your household contents insurance.

Citizens Advice provide more information about Buildings insurance, and how much buildings insurance cover you may need.

Renovations insurance

Renovations insurance protects your home and its contents when you are carrying out building works.

Some works, such as standard DIY projects or replacing a kitchen might be covered by your buildings insurance policy, so it is important to check your policy to make sure you know what is covered and what is not.

If you are preparing to carry out building works, you should tell your buildings insurance provider otherwise your policy could be made invalid if something goes wrong. You might also need to take out renovations insurance to cover the works.

Renovations insurance covers your home from the start of your works until the project is finished, and is usually needed for projects like:

Structural works, rewiring or re-roofing
Extensions and alterations to the layout of your home
Loft or basement conversions

Exactly what is covered or required will depend on the nature of the work, your existing buildings insurance and the value of the works involved.

You should also tell your insurance provider if your home is going to be unoccupied during the building works as this may affect your existing policy.

Doorstep fraud

Doorstep fraud involves criminals knocking on your door and unexpectedly offering products or services.

Fraudsters convince you to pay for goods or work which is often overpriced, or poor quality or is not even carried out. In many cases, this work isn’t even necessary. They may use intimidation and pressure you to make quick decisions so that you agree to their demands.

Criminals may try to convince you that work is urgently required and the price they are charging is fair. They will put pressure on you to have the work done immediately and may ask for payment upfront. Often the work is not completed, or if it is, the work is to a poor standard. You may also be overcharged for any work done.

They can use deception to convince you by:

Claiming they were working on a neighbour's address and noticed you need work completing and they have the materials.
Inspecting areas you can’t access, for example the loft or roof and showing you photos or videos claiming they are evidence that you need the urgent repairs.
Throwing water down when you are not looking to indicate you have ‘damp’.
They may be insistent you pay in cash immediately or put down a deposit, even offering to take you to the bank to get the money. If you do this, they may continue to find reasons for you to pay more money.
Some callers will be legitimate. If they are, then they will be more than happy to wait whilst you check them out using a number you can verify yourself, not one supplied by them.

Stay safe from doorstep fraud

If you are not sure, then don’t open your door. Callers can show you their official credentials through a window without you opening your door.
If you are not happy about someone’s identity, do not let them into your house under any circumstances. You don’t have to open your door to say ‘No thank you’ to someone.
Legitimate builders do not call door to door and they would never expect you to pay upfront for their services.
If you do let someone in, never leave your front door open/unlocked and unattended, so a second individual can’t enter without your knowledge.

Reporting doorstep fraud

If you have been a victim of doorstep crime, call 101 or report it online.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
If you have any information about any person(s) who have committed such crimes or details of vehicles they use, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Your call is free and is completely anonymous.

Visit www.lincs.police.uk for more information about doorstep fraud.

What should you do if you’ve been a victim of bogus tradesmen fraud?

Report it to Action Fraud on line or on 0300 123 2040
You can report the salesperson to the Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133. or to National Trading Standards if you believe they have sold you faulty, inferior or overpriced products or services.
Similarly, you can seek advice from Citizens Advice about the terms and conditions of any agreement or contract you may have signed.
If you’ve made the payment by credit/debit card or by cheque, contact your credit card company and/or bank and advise them that you’re a victim of improper door-to-door sales techniques and your identity or financial details may have been compromised. They’ll advise you on cancelling payments and ensuring your finances remain secure.

Report a scam to Action Fraud

Cyber criminals use fake messages as bait to lure you into clicking on the links within their scam email or text message, or to give away sensitive information (such as bank details).

These messages may look like the real thing but are malicious. Once clicked, you may be sent to a dodgy website which could download viruses onto your computer, or steal your passwords.

If you think you may have been the victim of fraud or cybercrime and incurred a financial loss or have been hacked as a result of responding to a phishing message, you should report this to Action Fraud.

Find out more about reporting fraud and scams on the Action Fraud website.

Energy Scams

Energy scams involve people pretending to be energy companies or regulators to get your money or personal information.

They can use the availability of grants, promises of cheap energy, and energy efficiency claims as tactics to trick you.

Scammers can contact you in many ways:

By a knock at your door
By phone call
Via social media
By email
Via a pop up on a website
By text message

The Energy Saving Trust provides information about common energy scams, how to spot them and top tips to save on your energy bills.

Visit energysavingtrust.org.uk for more information about energy scams.

There is help available for residents struggling with the cost of living from the council and other organisations. There are a number of initiatives you can apply for or access information on through Lincolnshire County Council.

You can find further information on your local district council website:

Boston Borough Council

City of Lincoln Council

East Lindsey District Council

North Kesteven District Council

South Kesteven District Council

South Holland District Council

West Lindsey District Council

You can also get help and advice on things such as energy bills and income support:

Cost of living support from the government
Help with finances and debt from Citizen’s Advice
Help with financial and life changes from Wellbeing Lincs

Be aware that criminal traders and fraudsters try to take advantage of people when they are vulnerable. You may find yourself more susceptible to scams when distracted and worried about your financial situation.

If you are concerned about a scam, or want to report one, please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.

Cost of Living Payments

If you are entitled to certain benefits or tax credits, you could get extra payments from the Government to help with the cost of living.

Visit Gov.uk for more information and guidance about Cost of Living Payments