Grants and interest free loans available to improve your home.
Dover District Council has been awarded funding of £1.8 million from the Government’s Regional Housing pot to be spent in 2007 on improving private sector housing for households receiving means tested benefits.
The housing in the poorest condition in the district is in the urban wards of Dover (St Radigunds, Castle, Tower Hamlets, Maxton and Elms Vale and Priory) and the majority of the funding (70%) will be allocated there, with the remaining 30% earmarked for qualifying households elsewhere in the district.
There is a second Council funded project for those also living in the Dover urban wards (listed above) who are not in receipt of benefits. Grants and interest free loans are now available for qualifying homeowners to improve their properties, from new central heating systems, repairing roofs or windows to installing fire safety measures and learning how to maintain your own property.
Applications are being sought from homeowners to receive this funding. Applying is easy and Dover District Council and its partners will assist you in obtaining these improvements to your home.
The funding is available through five individual schemes outlined on this page.
Enjoy a warmer home and lower bills for free The Coldbusters scheme is specifically designed to improve warmth and energy efficiency in the home. Grants are available to install central heating or improve insulation.
For more information, contact The Kent Energy Centre on 0800 358 6669.
Coldbusters at a glance:
Make your home safe, warm and dry The Decent Homes Scheme provides a combination of grant and interest free loan to help homeowners improve their properties. The funding covers a wide range of improvements such as roofs, windows and electrics. Funding of up to £25,000 is available per household, and 30% of this is a grant. The remaining 70% is an interest free loan.
To qualify you need to be receiving certain benefits. For more information, contact Dover District Council’s Private Sector Housing Team on 01304 872454.
Decent Homes Scheme at a glance:
Learn how to maintain your home Dover District Council, in partnership with South Kent College, is launching a new course for people to learn about their homes and how to maintain them. When you have learnt simple skills you will be able to save time and money by doing it yourself, as well as being able to insulate your own home to save energy bills.
The course is free. It will cover many aspects of home maintenance including how to stop rot, simple plumbing, heating and electrics, and how to insulate your home. All attendees will receive a completion certificate at the end of the course.
To qualify you need to be receiving certain benefits. For more information, contact Dover District Council’s Private Sector Housing Team on 01304 872454.
Training and advice at a glance:
Secure your property against fire (For freeholders only)
The fire safety scheme is designed to improve fire safety systems in houses in multiple occupation (flats). Fires cause significant damage to property as well as injuries and sometimes death. Grants for 50% of costs are available for sprinkler systems and interest free loans for other fire safety systems.
For more information, contact Dover District Council’s Private Sector Housing Team on 01304 872454.
Fire safety scheme at a glance:
Most of the schemes are specifically targeted at vulnerable households receiving means tested benefits. For the purposes of this project vulnerable households have been defined as those in receipt of at least one of the principal means tested benefits, such as:
Please note these benefits do change from time to time. To check if you qualify and for further detailed terms and conditions, contact Dover District Council’s Private Sector Housing Team on 01304 872454
These schemes are up and running and funds are available NOW. If you are interested in any of the schemes and would like more information, contact Dover District Council’s Private Sector Housing Team on 01304 872454.
Contact Private Sector Housing
Telephone: 01304 872454
E-mail: privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk
