General home maintenance
The gutters, the lawn and the light bulb in the hallway. Jobs that used to take an afternoon and now need a ladder you shouldn't be on.
Nobody should be up that ladder
Falls from ladders send a lot of otherwise healthy older people to hospital, and most of them were doing something small: a gutter, a bulb, a smoke alarm chirping at two in the morning. The job takes five minutes. The recovery takes five months.
So we do those jobs instead. A worker comes out, brings the ladder and the tools, and you keep your feet on the floor.
Jobs we take on
- Lawn mowing, edging, weeding and pruning, on a regular run or as a one-off.
- Gutters cleared and downpipes checked before storm season.
- Light bulbs replaced, smoke alarms tested and batteries changed.
- Minor repairs: a sticking door, a loose handle, a dripping washer, a shelf that needs rehanging.
- Green waste and rubbish taken away, including the branches left after a prune.
- Paths swept clear of leaves and moss, which is where a lot of falls start.
Keeping the garden yours
A garden that gets away from you is one of the first things a visiting family member notices, and one of the first arguments about whether the house is still manageable. It's usually a bad argument, because the garden is a mowing problem, not a capacity problem.
Most people don't want the garden taken off them. They want the heavy end handled so they can keep doing the parts they enjoy. Tell the worker which beds you still look after yourself, and they'll leave those alone.
Who turns up
The person doing the work is police checked and insured, the same as any worker who comes into your home for care. They ring before they arrive rather than appearing at the side gate, they'll wipe their feet, and they'll walk you round the finished job so you're not discovering a missed downpipe during the next storm.
If you'd rather nobody came inside at all, say so on the booking. Most maintenance work never needs the front door opened.
What we won't take on
We're straight about the limits. Major renovations, roof replacement, tree felling and anything requiring a licensed electrician or plumber sit outside general maintenance, and we'll tell you that rather than have someone attempt it.
Work that changes the house to suit you, like a rail, a ramp or a step-free shower, is a different service with a different funding path. That's home modifications, and it starts with an occupational therapist rather than a handyman.
Where maintenance sits in Support at Home
Maintenance and gardening fall in the Everyday living category of Support at Home, the program that replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025, alongside cleaning and meals. Everyday living services carry a participant contribution, worked out from your income and your Age Pension status. Your quarterly budget and your contribution rate are both set when your package is assigned, and we'll explain how yours works before you book anything.
Booking a job
Call 1800 434 002 or send the form below. Tell us what needs doing and roughly how big it is, and whether you'd like it once or regularly. We'll tell you what we can take on and what it would cost. No charge for asking.
Other services
- Domestic assistance — cleaning, laundry and the shopping, inside the house.
- Home modifications — rails, ramps and bathroom changes to a therapist's plan.
- Meals and nutrition — help with shopping, cooking and eating well.
- All services
Common questions
What jobs does home maintenance cover?
Lawn mowing, edging, weeding and pruning, gutter clearing, rubbish and green waste removal, light bulbs and batteries changed, smoke alarms tested, taps and door handles tightened, curtains and shelves rehung, and seasonal jobs like clearing leaves before a storm or cutting back growth before summer.
What is the difference between maintenance and a home modification?
Maintenance keeps the house as it is. A modification changes the house so it suits you better, like a grab rail, a ramp or a step-free shower. They are funded differently and a modification usually needs an occupational therapist assessment first, so it is worth knowing which one you are asking for.
Is home maintenance covered by Support at Home?
Yes. Maintenance and gardening sit in the Everyday living category, alongside cleaning and meals. Everyday living services carry a participant contribution, and what you pay is worked out from your income and your Age Pension status. Both your quarterly budget and your contribution rate are set when your package is assigned.
Can the same person come each time?
For a regular garden, yes, and it makes a real difference. Someone who has mowed your lawn before knows which bed is a garden and which is weeds, where the tap is, and that the side gate sticks. Regular jobs go into the roster and stay with the same worker.
Do you do one-off jobs, or does it have to be regular?
Both. Some people have a fortnightly mow all year. Others call twice a year, before summer and before winter, to get the gutters done and the overhanging branches cut back. A single job is a perfectly normal request and we will not try to sell you a schedule.
Can I book maintenance before my package is approved?
Yes, privately, and there is no reason to let a yard get away from you while you wait. Once your package is assigned the work moves onto it, with the same worker doing the same job on the same day.
Enquire about home maintenance
Tell us where you're up to and we'll be in touch. Prefer to talk? Call 1800 434 002.