Private Sector Housing

Housing Grant Assistance

Homes Assistance Scheme

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Introduction

The Homes Assistance Scheme is an initiative by Dover District Council to help improve the condition of the district’s privately owned housing.

The scheme is open to all homeowners in receipt of means tested benefits, and landlords.

It provides a grant and interest free loan to help finance a wide range of household improvements including roofs, windows and electrics. Funding of up to £30,000 is available per household, and 20% of this is a grant. The remaining 80% is an interest free loan (0% APR).

This page outlines who can apply, the types of improvement works that qualify under the scheme, the application process, and the terms and conditions attached to the interest free loans.

Who can apply?

The scheme is available to homeowners in receipt of a means tested benefit. At the present time these include the following benefits:

Income Support
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
War Disablement Pension
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Pension Credit

It is also available to landlords willing to let to tenants on the above benefits.

What types of improvement works are covered by the scheme?

Funding will be considered for improvements that help the property achieve the Decent Homes Standard.

Qualifying improvements will be identified by an officer of the Private Sector Housing Team in agreement with
the Council’s policy, as summarised below.

Decent Homes Standard

The dwelling must be free from a Category One (serious) Hazard.
The dwelling must be in a reasonable state of repair. A dwelling is likely to fail this standard if either:
- One or more of the key building components is old and, because of its condition, needs replacing or major repair.
- Two or more of the other building components are old and, because of their condition, need replacing or major repair.
The dwelling should have reasonably modern facilities and services. A dwelling is likely to fail this standard if it lacks three or more of the following:
- A kitchen which is less than 20 years old.
- A kitchen with adequate layout and space.
- A bathroom which is less than 30 years old.
- An appropriately located bathroom and/or toilet and wash hand basin.
- Adequate insulation against external noise, where external noise is a problem.
- Adequate size and layout of common areas for blocks of flats.
The dwelling must provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort. To meet this standard, a dwelling would be expected to have adequate provision for heating throughout and effective insulation.

How does the application process work?

Enquiries for funding can be made either by telephone, post or in person at the Dover Area or Whitfield offices. All enquiries will be acknowledged by letter and then dealt with by the Private Sector Housing Team. The application process will be run using the following steps.

Step 1 – Qualification visit

To find out if you qualify for improvement works under the scheme, an officer from the Private Sector Housing Team will visit you and assess your dwelling. Following this assessment, the department will write to you with their decision. If successful, you will also be sent details of the works and the relevant application forms.

Step 2 – Your application

To apply for funding, you must complete the relevant forms supplied by the Council. A complete application should include:

a completed application form, which will include the interest free loan agreement;
a proof of title form;
certificate of occupation, as appropriate to the application;
two itemised estimates and cost of any fees;
and specialist reports, building regulations, planning permission and plans where required and any other details brought to your attention before approval.

Step 3 – Approving your application

The Council will write to you to let you know if your application has been approved or refused. If approved, the letter will state how much funding you will receive, and highlight any costs included on the estimates that did not qualify for the funding. The funding is not transferable.

Prior to approval, you will be required to complete a Legal Charge Document, allowing the interest free loan
(0% APR) to be registered to the dwelling as a charge at the Tunbridge Wells Land Registry.

It is important to note that any improvement works started before you have received your letter of approval
will not qualify unless agreed in writing by the Council beforehand.

Step 4 – Managing your improvement works

The building contract for the agreed works will be between you and the chosen contractor and will not include the Council. An officer from the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team will check the works to make sure they are carried out according to the agreed works and in accordance with good building practice.

However, neither the Council nor their officers are liable for any poor workmanship and they do not provide a guarantee.

If the completed works are not of an acceptable standard, the Council may withhold the agreed funding.

Step 5 – Paying for your improvement works

Payments under the grant and interest free loan (0% APR) are normally made directly to the contractor who estimated and carried out the work. Stage payments can normally be paid. Payments cannot be paid in advance and will be based upon works that have been carried out. Invoices must be provided by the contractor in order to make payments.

Step 6 – Repaying your interest free loan

All the interest free loan (0% APR) funding provided by this scheme must be repaid. Repayment will be required:

when the dwelling is sold by the owner-occupiers;
in the event of the applicant’s death or in the case of joint applicants, on the death of the second applicant;
in the case of landlords, when the dwelling is sold or five years after the date of the final payment, whichever is the sooner; and
when the property is not occupied in agreement with the certificate of future occupation.

It is important to check that the loan will meet your needs if you want to move or sell your home, or if you want your family to inherit it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent advice.

It is important to note that the grant is not repayable but is subject to terms and conditions for five years. If the property is sold during this period or the property is not occupied in agreement with the certificate of occupation then all or some of it will be repayable. For more details, contact the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team.

For more information

If you have any questions or queries relating to this scheme or any of the terms and conditions, please
contact us.

Private Sector Housing Team, Dover District Council,
White Cliffs Business Park, Dover, Kent CT16 3PJ

Tel: 01304 872454

Email: privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk