Home Improvement Grants and Loans

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 disaiblity 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 availabe 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 Therefore, the availability of these grants/loans may be withdrawn at any time.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 or on a low income. (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 or on a low income 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 works in partnership with the local energy advice centre and the Government funded Warm Front scheme to provide FREE insulation to all owner occupiers aged 60 or over and to owner occupiers below this age who are in receipt of certain income related benefits.

For more information on Insulation Grants, please contact the United Sustainable Energy Agency on 0800 512012

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 Council operates a waiting list for non urgent cases.

Conditions will normally be attached to the offer of a grant or loan.

Further Information

• Grants and Loans frequently asked questions

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