Home Improvements - Repair Assistance Grant

What is Repair Assistance?

Repair Assistance is a grant given by the City Council for a range of renovation and repair works for owner occupied properties. The works carried out under this grant are to ensure that homeowners can remain living in safe, warm properties and not have their health affected by poor living conditions.

What are the Eligibility Conditions?

To be considered for Repair Assistance the following criteria need to be filled

The applicant must have had an owner's interest in the property for at least three years before the application is made; and
Have lived in the property as their only or principal residence for at least three years before the application was made
The applicant must be 18 years old at the date of application
The applicant must not have received a housing grant from the Council previously

When is Repair Assistance available?

Repair Assistance can be made available where a property is unfit for human habitation, e.g. the property is in serious disrepair; has severe damp; inadequate provision for lighting; heating and ventilation; unsatisfactory kitchen facilities or bathroom facilities. The maximum repair assistance for unfit properties is £20,000. Repair Assistance can also be made available where a property is considered to be fit for human habitation but requires works under the following criteria:

Inadequate thermal insulation of property or defective heating
Inadequate smoke detection
Inadequate security measures
Uneven pathways or floors giving rise to tripping hazard

The maximum repair assistance for these works is £5,000.

How is Repair Assistance paid?

Payment of Repair Assistance can be made in whole after the work has been completed, or in part by installments direct to the builder.
Conditional to payment of repair assistance is that the approved works are carried out within 12 months from the date approved unless the Council agrees otherwise. The payment of repair assistance is conditional upon:

The approved works being carried out to the satisfaction of the Council
The Council being provided with an acceptable invoice or receipt for payment
The work being carried out by a contractor whose quote accompanied the application unless the Council agrees otherwise

The Council may, under severe circumstances, request repayment of repair assistance where the one or more of the Council's conditions have not been met.

What happens after an application is submitted?

The Council will notify the applicant of the outcome of the application no later than six weeks after the date of receipt of the valid application. If the application was refused the Council will notify the applicant of the reasons and inform the applicant of review procedures.
If the application is approved the notification will

Specify the works and the full cost of the works for which assistance is approved
Specify the amount of assistance that is approved
Provide a statement of the conditions to which assistance is subject
Make a formal offer of assistance

Do I have to pay anything towards repair assistance?

If the applicant is in receipt of

Income support
Income related job seekers allowance
A state pension with no other income
A combined household income of less than £15,000

at the time the application is made there will be no need to make a contribution towards the Repair Assistance. Other applications will be means tested to calculate the contribution towards the Repair Assistance.