Your local authority will usually expect you to
appoint a professional agent to carry through the adaptation work
on your behalf. Your agent can either be an architect or other
technical person who will apply for building warrant, obtain
building estimates and oversee the building work.
If you already know someone who will do this work for
you, invite them to look at the house, discuss your requirements
with them and ask for an estimate of the fee charges for the work.
If there is a Disabled Persons Housing
Service (DPHS) in your area they may also be able
to provide this information. A DPHS is a one-stop shop providing a
range of people-centred services in housing advice, information and
support. Care and Repair would also be able to help you or
you could contact the Client
Advisory Service of the Royal Incorporation of Architects
in Scotland. Your local authority may also
be able to supply details of experienced architects. Details for
all these organisations are in the useful contacts section at the
end of this guide.
Before deciding on an architect, ask for an estimate
of the fee costs in writing. Consider the costs carefully.
Remember, if the work does not go ahead for any reason you may
still owe a fee for any architectural work that has been done.
Start to budget for your own share of the cost after the grant is
taken into account. Even if, as happens in many cases, your local
authority will make a contribution to costs, this may not cover
everything.
Video transcript: