Home Improvement Grants and Loans
A home improvement loan may be available to owners of properties which fail to meet the Government's decent homes standard if the applicant is unable to pay for essential repairs or improvements.
The Decent Homes standard requires that a property:
- meets the statutory minimum standard for housing
- is in a reasonable state of repair
- has reasonably modern facilities and services
- provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort
These loans are discretionary and are subject to a means test which takes account of your income and safety.
A grant or loan may be available to owner-occupiers to pay for repairs, improvements, energy efficiency works or works to improve home safety for the over 60s. Eligibility is dependent on the age of the applicant and receipt of certain income or disability related benefits. In some circumstances, you may also qualify if you are on a low income.
All of these grants and loans are discretionary and enquiries will be prioritised according to the urgency of the works and the applicant's individual circumstances.
The council has limited funds available for this type of work. Therefore, the availability of these grants/loans may be withdrawn at any time.
A brief outline of the help that is available is given below. For more detailed information, see the Council's Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy or contact the Environmental Health and Licensing unit.
Home Improvement Loans
A Home Improvement Loan may be offered in the following cases:
- Where extensive works are required to meet the Government's decent homes standard
- To adapt a property for a disabled person (in certain limited circumstances where a disabled facilities grant is not available).
- To bring a long-term vacant property back into use.
To qualify, you must have owned and lived in your home for at least 1 year and be in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit. (To see if you qualify for a home improvement loan for a long-term vacant property, contact the Environmental Health Division on 01438 242907).
Minor Works Grants
A grant of up to £1,000 may be available to owner occupiers who are in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit to help with small repairs and improvements. We cannot help with works of routine maintenance e.g. replacing tap washers, ball valves, drain clearance etc. However, the Handyperson scheme may be able to help with these works.
You must repay the grant in full if you move within 10 years.
Home Safety Grants
We may be able to help with a grant of up to £1,000 to improve the security of your home, for example, by installing window and door locks, spy holes etc. To qualify you must be aged 60 or over and own your own home.
You must repay this grant in full if you move within 10 years.
Home Insulation Grants
The Council does not, currently, offer Home Insulation Grants. However, a wide range of assistance is now available through the Herts & Essex Energy Partnership (HEEP), launched in July 2009.
Relocation Grants
A relocation grant may be given to help an owner occupier to move to a more suitable property where their current home is unsuitable for improvement or adaptation AND that property fails to meet the decent homes standard or it requires adaptation for a disabled occupant.
NB The above is intended as a brief guide only and does not guarantee the availability of assistance. The amount of money available for grants/loans is strictly limited and the availability of assistance may be withdrawn at any time.
Conditions will normally be attached to the offer of a grant or loan.
Further Information
Contact
Environmental Health & Licensing
Stevenage Borough Council
Daneshill House
Danestrete
Stevenage
Herts
SG1 1HN
Email: envhealth@stevenage.gov.uk
Telephone: 01438 242908/242916
Fax: 01438 242142