Housing Improvements

Assistance with housing renewal

1. INTRODUCTION

This is a summary of the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy for the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane, which came into effect on 1 April 2006. The policy explains the types of assistance available for homeowners and tenants to repair and improve their homes. The full text of the policy is available on our website: www.basingstoke.gov.uk, and can also be viewed at the Civic Offices, local libraries and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

Our policy on home improvements takes into account the primary responsibility of owners to maintain their properties from their own resources. We will assist with home improvements by raising awareness of the importance of regular home maintenance, and providing financial assistance where appropriate. However, we have a legal obligation to ensure that all homes in the Borough meet a minimum standard and reserve the right to take legal enforcement action if an owner fails to improve their property when asked to do so.

The provision of financial assistance may involve the award of a grant, or the offer of financial advice. We will offer the following grants, subject to terms and conditions, providing the necessary funds are available.

1. RENOVATION GRANTS

Owner-occupiers, and tenants with a duty to maintain the property, can apply for Renovation Grants. The following work may be considered for grant assistance:

· Removing or moderating a serious hazard in the home;

· Carrying out large-scale repairs and improvements to the home;

· Providing one or more dwellings by the conversion of a house or other building;

· Renovating a property that has been empty for at least six months to make it suitable for occupation;

· Installing central heating, where none is present.

All applicants will need to provide evidence that they are unable to fund the necessary work from an extended mortgage or by releasing funds tied up in the value of the property. They may also be required to undergo the national means test of resources to determine whether they can contribute from their existing income and savings.

See Section 4 for conditions attached to the offer of a Renovation Grant.

2. DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS

We will award Disabled Facilities Grants to owner-occupiers, tenants or landlords, to assist with the cost of adapting the home to meet the needs of an occupant with a disability, where the work falls into one of the following categories:

· Overcoming any obstacles that prevent the occupant with disabilities from moving freely into and around the dwelling;

· Making the dwelling safe for the occupant with disabilities and other people residing in the dwelling;

· Providing a suitable bedroom;

· Providing an accessible bathroom and watercloset, or enabling easier use of the existing amenities;

· Enabling easier use of the kitchen;

· Improving the heating system;

· Enabling easier use of the sources of power, light or heat;

· Improving access and movement around the home to enable the occupant with a disability to care for another resident.

We may also award a Disabled Facilities Grant for work not listed above, subject to the availability of funds.

A Disabled Facilities Grant will only be awarded if the Social Services Department confirms the need for the proposed work. Applicants can discuss this further, or arrange an assessment by an occupational therapist, by phoning 0845 6004555.

All applicants must undergo the national means test of resources, to determine their financial contribution towards the proposed work. We may award a Disabled Facilities Grant to cover any balance, subject to the grant limit set by central government.

3. HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE GRANTS

Owner-occupiers and tenants can apply for Home Repair Assistance Grants for work that falls into any of the following categories:

a) Adapting or improving a dwelling for the benefit of a person with a disability;

b) Removing or moderating a serious hazard in the home;

c) Carrying out repairs or improvement to a dwelling;

d) Improving the safety and security of a home, for example, by installing door chains, door and window locks, and smoke alarms. This assistance is primarily available to people aged 60 years or over, and to families with a resident child aged five years or under, but may be considered for other households;

e) Improving the energy efficiency of the dwelling by insulating lofts, hot water tanks, pipes and cavity walls;

f) Installing or adapting a central heating system.

We may refuse an application from a tenant where the landlord is responsible for carrying out the proposed work.

The maximum amount of assistance is £5000 for work described in category a) above, and £2000 for all other categories.

To qualify for assistance, the applicant must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

· Income Support

· Council Tax Benefit

· Housing Benefit

· Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

· Minimum Income Guarantee.

Applicants aged 60 years and over, or people with disabilities or long-term illnesses who are not in receipt of one of the benefits above, may undergo the national means test applicable to Disabled Facilities Grants. Where this test reveals that they are on a very low income, they may apply for any category of Home Repair Assistance Grant.

4. GRANT CONDITIONS FOR RENOVATION GRANTS

Renovation Grants will be offered to owner-occupiers, subject to the applicant retaining ownership of the property for a minimum of ten years after the work is completed. Throughout this period the applicant, or a member of his/her family, must live in the dwelling as their only, or main, residence.

Renovation Grants to tenants will be offered subject to the owner retaining ownership of the property for a minimum of ten years after the work is completed. The dwelling must also be available for letting as a residence during this period to people not connected with the owner.

In any case where the property is sold, or ceases to be occupied in accordance with the above conditions, before the end of the ten-year period we may demand the grant to be repaid. The amount to be repaid will depend on when the contravention of the grant condition occurred, as follows:

0 – 5 years after final payment - 100% grant repayment

6 – 7 years after final payment - 75% grant repayment

8 – 10 years after final payment - 50% grant repayment

To find out more about any of the above, or to make an application for assistance, please contact the Housing improvements Team on 01256 845331. Enquiries can also be made through our e-mail address: housing@basingstoke.gov.uk.

It is essential that no work be started before a grant is approved, otherwise the offer of a grant will be prejudiced.