INTRODUCTION
The Borough Council's programme for the promotion of home repair and adaptation is set out in our Housing Renewal Policy. A full copy (43 pages) of the current version can be downloaded by clicking here. Alternatively, a three page summary is available by clicking here.
Responsibility for maintaining property rests with the owner, who must arrange suitable funding for any necessary work. The Council expects owners to make every effort to fund improvements and repairs through loans, savings and other measures, such as equity release. The Council also recommends that owners seek proper information from independent financial advisors.
Owner-occupiers who need to repair their homes but are unable to obtain a loan from the usual High Street lenders may be able to obtain a Home Loan from South Coast Money Line (Telephone: 023 9282 6180) an independent 'Peoples Bank' who are supported by local authorities (including Gosport).
More details are available below in the Home Loans section below.
MANDATORY DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS
These are available to convert dwellings for use by a qualifying person who is registered disabled and living in the property.
The maximum grant payable is £30,000.
Who may apply?
Applicants may be owner-occupiers or private sector tenants who are registered disabled, or owner-occupiers or private sector tenants who have an eligible person who is registered disabled living with them or in their property.
Eligible persons are those who are registered (with social services) as disabled.
What is covered?
An expert Occupational Therapist (OT) from Hampshire Social Services will determine what works will meet the assessed needs of the disabled person.
Typical work may includes –
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Providing bathing facilities, e.g. a level access shower
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Facilitating access into the home or within it to the bathroom or bedroom, e.g. by a stair lift
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Adapting heating and lighting controls, e.g. by placing them at wheelchair height.
Individual applicants must be financially means tested to assess their contribution to the cost of the works.
The maximum grant payable is £30,000, but this is only made in very exceptional circumstances. The applicant must meet any excess non-approved costs.
Council tenants and Housing Associations tenants may have this type of work carried out and funded by their landlord.
How to apply
Initial requests should be made direct to:
The Occupational Therapy Unit,
Adult Social Services
133 Stoke Road,
Gosport,
PO12 1SD
Telephone: 0845 600 4555
Procedure
An OT will visit the home to assess needs and to decide if any adaptations to the home are necessary.
If adaptations are necessary, the OT will arrange for the applicant to be sent a preliminary "Test of financial resources".
The potential applicant must complete and return this form to determine how much grant aid is likely for the proposed works.
Subject to this test of resources, the applicant will then be sent the relevant documents to enable a grant application to be made.
Work may require planning permission and building regulation consent.
Please note that discretionary Disabled Facilities Grants are not normally considered.
Help with the Grant Application Procedure
Many applicants find it useful to employ a professional adviser to help them with the grant formalities.
The application procedure can involve not only completing the application form but could also include drafting plans, obtaining planning permission or building regulation approval (if required), obtaining estimates and the selection of a reputable builder, as well as the supervision of the work as it proceeds.
All this can be done for the applicant by using the FREE services of the Council's home improvement agency, In Touch.
In Touch is a registered charity which has a close working relationship with the Council and can be contacted at their offices at:
In Touch
First Floor Offices,
47-57 High Strett,
West End,
Southampton,
SO30 3DQ.
Telephone: 023 8060 6305.
DISCRETIONARY HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE GRANTS
These grants will only be considered for vital emergency minor aids or adaptations for persons who are registered disabled.
This type of grant is only available in priority situations that could directly affect the occupant's health, safety or welfare; or which could affect the health, safety or welfare of the disabled person's carer; or to prevent "bed blocking".
What work can be funded by Discretionary Home Repair Assistance Grants?
The grants are for vital works in emergency situations for the provision of minor aids or adaptations for disabled persons, up to a maximum grant of £5,000, and could include, for instance, a straight stair lift or a level access shower.
Note: Gosport Borough Council is not able to offer grants or discounts for either central heating or double-glazing.
Who may apply?
Applicants must be owner-occupiers or private sector tenants who are registered disabled or who are registerable disabled AND who are in receipt of any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance (not contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not contribution Jobseeker's Allowance)
- Guaranteed Pension Credit (not Savings Pension Credit alone)
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit provided that the annual income for the purposes of assessing entitlement to the tax credit is less than £15,000
Council tenants and Housing Association tenants are NOT eligible.
Further information can be obtained from the Private Sector Housing Team at Environmental Health. Please see the contact details below.
HOME LOANS
The Home Trust Loan is designed for home owners whose properties need essential repairs, improvement or adaptation and who do not have the funds available to carry out the work. The Home Trust Loan scheme provides you with all the support and guidance you need to see the home improvement process through from start to finish.
It is provided by South Coast Moneyline, a socially responsible not-for-profit lending organistation. They work in partnership with 15 local authorities across the South (including Gosport Borough Council) to guarantee a low interest rate of 5.0% (5.1% APR).
The benefits are:
- Low cost and tailored to your needs: designed to suit your budget.
- Guaranteed, fixed rate: a low, fixed rate of interest, guaranteed for the full term of the loan.
- Specialist service: South Coast Moneyline offer the support of a dedicated Home Trust Loan officer who is able to carry out home visits.
- Early settlement: you may make overpayments or settle the loan in full without penalty.
The Council is legally unable to offer financial advice directly. Before deciding whether to take out a loan for home repair or improvement, the Council recommends that owners seek proper information from independent financial advisors, or South Coast Money Line Telephone: 023 9282 6180.
For more information about the Home Trust Loan, please visit
www.hometrustloan.org.uk
HOMECHECK SCHEME
This is a free service to qualifying owner-occupiers and tenants. It provides home safety and security checks in the home of people aged 60 and over, registered disabled people or homes with a child under 5.
Homecheck home security improvements, up to a maximum of £250, may also be available, e.g. replacement/additional door or window locks, door viewers, security lighting, etc.
How to apply
Contact Environmental Health Services for details:
Telephone: 023 9254 5506
Email: ehs@gosport.gov.uk
HANDYPERSON SERVICE
This is not a grant but a service sponsored by the Council and operated by a registered charity, In Touch.
The service has been set up in response to Borough residents concerns about finding reliable workmen to carry out small jobs about the house.
Who may apply?
Any resident (owner-occupier or tenant) over the age of 60 years or who is registered disabled, AND in receipt of a pension.
What is covered?
Any odd job such as:
putting up shelves and curtain rails,
replacing tap washers;
repairing overflows etc.
What isn't covered?
Any repairs to gas or electrical appliances, erecting fences or work on roofs.
Help with gardening or decorating may be obtained from Gosport Voluntary Action for payment of a small fee.
Telephone: 023 9260 1314 or 023 9252 3869 for more details
How much?
£8 per hour, with a reduction to £5 per hour for those in receipt of Income Support, Guaranteed Pension Credit, Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit.
For more details telephone: 023 8060 6305
CONVERSION GRANTS
Who may apply?
Landlords of privately owned empty or under-used dwellings, shops and offices who will convert them into dwellings (such as flats) to be rented in the private sector.
Owner-occupiers, Council and Housing Association and privately renting tenants are NOT eligible.
How much?
Grant is normally limited to 50% of the cost of the works, up to a maximum of £5,000 per self-contained dwelling resulting from the conversion. Additional funding may be available in special circumstances.
How to apply
Please make initial enquires direct to the Private Sector Housing Team.
Contact details are below.
HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
There are a number of Government backed schemes available to help you install energy saving measures in your home. There is some form of support available for nearly all categories of household, regardless of income (terms apply). However, those residents in social housing should contact their landlord.
Please also see information sheet Energy Saving Discounts and Grants available within Gosport.
Warm Front Grant. The Warm Front Grant is a Central Government funded initiative for low-income households, which provides insulation, draught proofing and some or all central heating. There is a fixed list of improvement options and the precise package of measures will depend on a survey of the property.
Who may apply? Warm Front Grants are for people who are on certain benefits who own their own home OR rent it from a private landlord.
If you have received a grant before, you may qualify for extra works depending on the improvement you originally received.
If you are unsure whether you are entitled to a Warm Front Grant, you may call the Benefit Entitlement Team FREE on 0800 072 9006
The Warm Front Grant is administered by EAGA Partnership Limited. For further information you may contact The Warm Front Team directly on FREEPHONE 0800 316 2814 or visit http://www.warmfront.co.uk/
OTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSISTANCE
The HEAT (Home Energy Action Taskforce) Hampshire Project, provides discounted loft and cavity wall insulation and is designed to enable ALL home owners or private tenants to have insulation measures installed at affordable prices and in some cases for FREE (terms apply). The HEAT Hampshire Project funding is limited and is managed by Enact Energy. Residents may obtain further information by telephoning FREE on 0800 093 4050 quoting ref: 05BDM or by applying on-line by visiting http://www.heatproject.co.uk/
Utility Grants. The fuel companies, such as British Gas and Southern Electric, provide financial assistance for energy efficiency improvements under their Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) to Central Government. Typically these can be around 50% and are offered to those who are not in receipt of income related benefits. As this is a national Government initiative take-up of these grants should not involve any tie-in to that fuel supplier. For any details, you may contact Enact Energy on FREEPHONE 0800 093 4050 or The Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC) on FREEPHONE 0800 512 012 (see below for further details on EEAC).
British Gas is currently managing a scheme offering discounted loft and/or cavity wall insulation to owner-occupiers and those privately renting PLUS an opportunity for a £50 rebate off their next Council Tax bill. Furthermore, interest free payment terms over 1-2 years MAY be available for the discounted insulation (terms apply).
Those in receipt of a qualifying benefit May get loft and/or cavity wall insulation completely FREE but without the £50 Council Tax rebate (terms apply).
The scheme is guaranteed until December 2007. Retrospective claims are not permitted (i.e. for those people who have already had insulation installed). You MAY only receive the £50 Council Tax rebate upon completion of work under this scheme (terms apply).
For further information, please contact British Gas on 0845 971 7731 (local rate)quoting reference GOSP.
NB: Some property types are unsuitable for cavity wall insulation, please discuss this with your installer.
The Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC).
As part of The Energy Saving Trust (a Government initiative) Energy Efficiency Advice Centres were set up across the United Kingdom during 1996. The Environment Centre (tEC) in Southampton continues to be part-funded by The Energy Saving Trust and operates as a charity. As such, the team of advisors are able to offer free impartial advice relating to any energy efficiency/ conservation issues. You may contact them on FREEPHONE 0800 512 012.
For Energy Efficiency Information sheets, please click on any of the following links:
Click here to jump to the Energy Efficiency page.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
For more information on Home Energy Efficiency please contact the Council's Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Officer
Telephone: 023 9254 5655
Email: carol.white@gosport.gov.uk
Gosport Borough Council
Strategic Services
Housing Services
Town Hall
High Street
Gosport
PO12 1EB
CONTACT DETAILS FOR PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING
For further information on any of the above services or grants please contact the Private Sector Housing Team at Environmental Health:
For information and advice please contact:
Gosport Borough Council
Private Sector Housing Team
Environmental Health Services
Town Hall
High Street
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 1EB
Tel: 023 9254 5510 or 023 9254 5506
Fax: 023 9254 5360
Email: ehs@gosport.gov.uk
The Council is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in all aspects of its work. If you feel you have been unfairly treated in this respect, please write to the Chief Executive.
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