Housing Grants

For many years the Council has encouraged householders to maintain and improve the housing stock in the area. The availability of house renovation grants has been a useful way of securing improvements in older houses.

The following types of grant are available:-

• House renovation grant for the improvement or repair of houses or flats. This is available to both owner/occupiers and landlords. It is intended to make a dwelling reasonably suitable for occupation and can rectify dampness, dangerous wiring and provide basic heating.
• Common parts grant for the improvement or repair of the common parts of buildings containing flats. It can be useful for defective roofs.
• HMO grants are available for the improvement and repair of houses in multiple occupation and can include fire safety works and the provision of amenities.
• Disabled facilities grants are given to help adapt homes for disabled persons. This involves specialist discussion with the Occupational Therapist on the essential works required for the needs of the person.
• Home repair assistance is intended to help with smaller repair works to assist elderly persons with maintenance items and enable them to continue living at the house.
• Group repairs scheme under which the Council assist with repairs to the external fabric of a block of homes which are done at the same time by the same contractor.

The aim of the grant scheme is to provide financial help for those who can least afford to pay for works to their properties. Owner/occupiers are subject to a means test to determine their contribution towards the scheme. Owners should have lived in their homes for three years to qualify for grant and should intend to continue living there for the next five years.

Generally the council believes that the cost of repairs in tenanted houses should be funded by the landlord from the rental income.  However we have the discretion to calculate a grant offer to landlords in blocks in need of repair or that are uneconomic to convert according to the needs of the job.

Owing to limited financial resources not all of these are currently available .The Council have to consider overall housing needs and have devised a points scoring system to ensure that assistance is given to persons in the greatest need. The purpose is to help the most vulnerable persons living in the worst housing conditions.

Related Documents

Housing Grants Booklet

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