The Home Improvement Trust (HIT) enables older and disabled people to live safely and independently in their own homes, helping to prevent poor health and reducing the need for residential care nationwide.

HIT, a not-for-profit organisation, was set up in 1997 with the support of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), now the Department for Communities and Local Government.  Working towards the government Decent Homes Standard target for raising the proportion of vulnerable people living in decent homes, its aim is to develop and make available affordable funding to supplement local private sector housing renewal policies and Disabled Facilities Grants needing a client contribution.  The continuing financial constraints on grants for private sector renewal, coupled with the growth of an ageing population, has made it increasingly difficult for older homeowners and those with disabilities to fund necessary repairs, improvements and adaptations to their homes. The Trust works in England, Scotland and Wales.

HIT runs the Houseproud programme which works in partnership with local authorities and home improvement agencies across England, Scotland and Wales to provide information on all the options available for homeowners or leaseholders who are either 60 or over, disabled, or who live with a disabled person to fund major work on their homes. Local partner officers provide a single and consistent point of contact for clients and can offer information about the equity release loan options for people who are either not eligible for grant assistance  or who have insufficient means to fund the client contribution required.  The loans arranged by HIT can be used either as ‘stand alone’ funding or as a top-up facility for a grant.