This report presents the main findings from the national evaluation of home improvement services in England. The Centre for Ageing Better appointed the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University in partnership with the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), the University of Sheffield, the University of Stirling, the Building Research Establishment (BRE), and Foundations to conduct the evaluation which ran for 18 months between May 2023 and October 2024.

The evaluation builds on the Good Home Inquiry, which called for more effective local delivery of home improvement services across England. Better evidence is required to demonstrate the contribution and impact these services make, and to nationally influence for increased prioritisation and investment. The evaluation is central to continuing to evidence the recommendations of the Good Home Inquiry particularly the key recommendation around the creation of local delivery bodies or Good Home Hubs that provide or signpost to information and advice, finance, home repairs, adaptations and energy retrofit services and operate as a one-stop shop.

It is hoped that learning from the evaluation will help to inspire local policy makers to improve their home improvement service offer and implement change.