Before applying for a grant
Disabled Relocation Grants are available to you if you or a member of your household who normally lives with you has disabilities and is eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant. They are designed to help meet the costs of moving to a different property if the property in which you currently live cannot reasonably be adapted to your needs or the needs of the person with disabilities. The grant maximum is £10,000. It can be used to help with costs such as legal or moving expenses. If the new property requires adaptation, a Disabled Facilities Grant can be applied for, but the combined maximum payable for the two grants is £25,000.
Applying for a grant
You will need to apply to Environmental Health at the Council if you wish to seek grant assistance. Although Disabled Facilities Grants are mandatory, Disabled Relocation Grants will only be offered at the discretion of the Council.
You will only be eligible for grant if:
Disabled Relocation Grants are means-tested. If you are on a means-tested benefit, such as Income Support you will have no contribution to make to the eligible costs. If you are not on a means-tested benefit, you and the Council will need to know at an early stage how much you are likely to have to pay towards the eligible costs.
When you make an initial enquiry about a grant to the Council, you will be asked to give certain information about any problems you are experiencing with your property and your intentions regarding moving. You will then be sent a 'Preliminary Test of Resources' to complete. When you return it, we can calculate your likely contribution.
If you have not already been in contact with KCC's Occupational Therapy Bureau, you will be advised to at this stage so that the needs of the person with disabilities can be assessed. An officer from the Council's Private Housing Team will arrange to visit you to discuss what assistance can be offered. If a Disabled Relocation Grant is considered the best course of action, a grant offer will be a made.
You will be given a grant package that will consist of:
You will be given 6 months in which to submit your application. In addition
to the completed documentation, it should include independent valuations
of both properties, details of all costs arising from the sale and purchase
of the properties that you wish to have considered for grant aid, together
with any other supporting information which the Council may require or
that you may want to submit. If you receive an OT's recommendation for
the new property, you should submit it with your application.
The grant calculation
The Council will consider all the costs that you have submitted. These may be legal and estate agent fees, stamp duty, difference in cost between the properties bought and sold. This will give the total costs eligible for assistance.
If you are on an income based benefit and have authorised us on the application form to check with the Benefits Agency, we will do this.
If you are not on an income-based benefit, we will calculate your contribution from the information you have given on the Financial Information Form. Proof of information on the form will be required and checked. This should be in the form of 3 monthly or 12 weekly pay slips, copies of statements of savings accounts etc.
The difference between the eligible costs and the contribution will be the grant total, up to a maximum of £10,000.
Eligible grant work
The Council will retain discretion over what costs are considered eligible for grant assistance and also will only offer grant if the new property is considered to be suitable for the needs of the person with disabilities, or more suitable for adaptation. A recommendation or statement from a KCC Occupational Therapist may be necessary.
Approval
The Council will give you a decision on your grant within 6 months of receipt of a complete, valid application, although this will normally be within 3 months.
Grant payment
Grant will only be paid on provision of acceptable invoices, demand or receipt of payment for the services that have been provided related to purchasing the new property. An invoice will not be accepted if it is for services provided by you or a member of your family. The Council will pay the grant in full on completion of the purchase of your new property. A 'Request for Final Payment' form will be issued to you with the approval documents. You will also be expected to provide proof of ownership of the new property and provide a form stating that you are intending to occupy the property as your main residence for at least five years from the day that you have acquired it. No payments will be made until all valid invoices are received together with a request for payment form. Payment will be made directly to you.
Grant Conditions
It is a grant condition that you should remain living in the property
for five years. If you should sell the property within the 5 years, the
whole of the grant is repayable unless the sale is an exempt disposal.
An exempt disposal includes passing the property to your spouse or a member
of your family, leaving the property in a will or inheritance, having
the property compulsorily purchased, disposing of the property by court
order following domestic breakdown or a number of other reasons.
You must inform the Council if you intend to sell the property within
the 5-year condition period. If during the grant condition period, the
Council requires it, you must within 21 days give a statement that the
property is being occupied in accordance with the conditions.
Details of your grant will be entered on the local land charge register.
You will be informed of the appeal process and in exceptional circumstances you may not be required to repay all or part of the grant.
Contact Private Sector Housing
Telephone: 01304 872454
E-mail: privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk
