Private Sector Housing Grants and Loans
Disabled Facilities Grant
These grants are available to owners or tenants to provide disabled adaptations to enable an occupant to use essential basic facilities or access their home. This is a statutory grant and the conditions of the grant are contained in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. The maximum grant is £30,000. Examples of common adaptations include:
More on Disabled Facilities Grants »
.
Disabled Home Assistance Grant
A person who is in receipt of a Disabled Facilities Grant can obtain a Disabled Home Assistance Grant of up to £7,000 in order to carry out essential works, e.g. Electrical repairs to enable the Disabled Facilities Grant works to proceed.
- Repayable if property sold within 10 years
- Applicant must be in receipt of Disabled Facilities Grant
- Owners can only apply
Disabled Adaptation Loan
Where a person is in receipt of a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) or Disabled Independence Grant (DIG) and adaptations works to exceed the maximum DFG grant limit of £30,000.00, a loan of up to £20,000 may be made available to fund the cost of eligible works that exceeds the DFG maximum
Disabled Independence Grant
A grant up to £30,000 for adaptations plus any cost towards fees up to a maximum of £5,000. The grant will also allow £3,000 towards any essential works of repair to enable the works to be completed. (The total grant possible is £38,000).
All application will be subject to the statutory means test for a DFG, but the calculation will exclude the first £20,000 of income. It is anticipated that this will enable most applicants to receive a grant.
The first £15,000 of grant has no conditions. Any amount over £15,000 will be subject to conditions that require that the amount above £15,000 is to be repaid if the property is sold or is no longer occupied by the applicant(s).
The grant conditions will only apply for 5 years from the date the works are completed.
Stairlift Grant
Where there is an urgent need for a stairlift in a disabled persons home, a grant of up to £6,000 will be provided for a stairlift in the following cases
- Where this has caused a delayed discharge of the patient due to the lack of a stairlift in their accommodation or
- Where the existing stairlift is more than 10 years old, is not working and beyond economic repair
- Where a person is known to become disabled following an operation (such as leg amputation) and a stairlift is required before the person can be discharged.
- Means Tested
- No Conditions
Disabled Relocation Grant
In appropriate cases where a property is unsuitable for adaptation with a Disabled Facilities Grant and it represents better value for money, a Disabled Relocation Grant will be offered up to a maximum of £20,000. This will pay for legal and moving costs and any agreed increase in the cost to purchase a more suitable property.
- Repayable if property sold (or applicants die) within 10 Years
- Applicant must be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant
- Will be subject to a means test
- Grant to pay for 70% of costs
Urgent Home Assistance Loan
A loan of up to £20,000 to owner-occupiers who are in receipt of a relevant means tested benefit or on low income at the time of application and whose home contains a serious hazard likely to cause risk of harm.
- Interest free loan
- Repayable if property sold
- Only owner occupiers can apply
- Will be subject to a means test
Winter Warmth Grant
This grant will pay for heating or insulation (normally replacement boilers) where the applicant is over 60 and has a long term heath condition. The maximum grant is £7,000.
- Grant is repayable if property sold within 10 years
- Only owner occupiers can apply
- Not means tested
Empty Property Loan
Where a KCC no use empty loan has been approved to bring a long term empty property back into residential use, a further interest free loan of up to £15,000 is available from DCC to supplement the KCC loan.
Handyperson Service
We provide financial support to the East Kent Homes Improvement Agency to enable a Handyperson Service which provides help to vulnerable households.
Private Sector Housing Policy 2021
Private Housing Policy 2021
Contact Private Sector Housing
Tel: 01304 872397
Email: privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk