INTRODUCTION
The Borough Council’s annual programme for the promotion of home repair and adaptation from April 2007 is set out in the Housing Renewal Policy.
As far as possible, responsibility for 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, etc... through loans, savings and other measures, such as equity release. The Council recommends that owners seek proper information from independent financial advisors, or South Coast Money Line (023 92 826180 - see below), an independent ‘Peoples Bank’ who are supported by local authorities (including Gosport) to assist owner-occupiers repair their homes with a loan, when they are denied access to funds by the usual High Street lenders. The council is legally unable to offer financial advice directly.
The Council recognises that financial support is necessary and appropriate in some cases. A range of financial assistance has been approved; this leaflet explains each grant in more detail. It also covers grants/assistance available from other sources such the Warm Front Team although these grants are not administered by the Council.
BUDGET
The Council operates to a fixed budget. When this budget runs out no further grants will be paid.
HELP WITH THE PROCEDURE
Many applicants find it useful to employ a professional adviser to help them with the grant formalities. This could include drafting plans, obtaining planning permission or building regulation approval (if required), selection of a reputable builder and supervision of the works as it proceeds. This can be done by a home improvement agency, In Touch, a registered charity. In Touch has a close working relationship with the council and can be contacted at First Floor Offices, 47-57 High Strett, West End, Southampton, SO30 3DQ. Telephone (023) 8060 6305.
MANDATORY DISABLED FACILITIES GRANTS
Who may apply? Applicants may be owner-occupiers, private sector tenants, or owner-occupiers / private sector tenants who have an eligible person living with them or in their property. Eligible persons are those who are registered (with social services) as disabled. Council and Housing Associations tenants have this type of work carried out and funded by their landlord.
What is covered? Works must meet the assessed needs, NOT wants, of the disabled person – so essentials only! An expert Occupational Therapist (OT) from Hampshire Social Services determines this. Typical work includes –
Providing bathing facilities, e.g. level access shower
Facilitating access into the home or within it, to, say, the bathroom or bedroom, e.g. by a stair lift
Adapting heating/lighting controls, e.g. by placing them at wheelchair height.
Individuals must be financially means tested to access their contribution to the cost of the works. The maximum grant payable is £25,000, but this is only made in very exceptional circumstances. The applicant must meet any excess costs.
How to apply: Initial requests should be made direct to the Occupational Therapy Unit, Social Services Department, 133 Stoke Road, Gosport, PO12 1SD, tel. 0845 600 4555
Procedure: An OT will visit the home to assess needs and whether any adaptations are necessary. If they are, the OT will notify the Council. The Council will then send to the person a preliminary test of financial resources form. The potential applicant must complete and return this to the Council who can then quickly determine how much grant aid is likely. Subject to this, grant formalities will commence and documents will be sent to applicant. Work may require planning permission and building regulation consent.
Please note that discretionary Disabled Facilities Grants are not normally considered.
CONVERSATION GRANTS
Who may apply? Landlords of privately owned empty or under-used shops and offices, who will convert them into properties to be rented in the private sector. Owner-occupiers, Council and Housing Association and privately renting tenants are NOT eligible.
How much? Grant is limited to not more than £5,000 per self-contained dwelling resulting from the conversation.
How to apply: Make initial enquires direct to the Private Sector Housing Team, Housing Services. Contact details are below.
HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Who may apply? Owner-occupiers who are over 60 years of age, or have a child under the age of 5, or are registered disabled AND are in receipt of Income Support, Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance, Pension Credit or Council Tax Benefit. Council/ Housing Association tenants are NOT eligible.
What is covered?
Emergency repairs and/or adaptations up to a maximum cost of £2,000 which, if not carried out, could directly affect the occupants health and well being, e.g.
NB: Gosport Borough Council are not able to offer grants or discounts for either Gas Central Heating or Double-Glazing.
HOME LOANS
If you are a home owner and need to repair or improve your home, up to a certain standard, but are refused a loan from one of the main High Street lenders, then help may be available via the South Coast Money Line. South Coast Money Line (023 92 826180), is an independent ‘Peoples Bank’ who are supported by a consortium of local authorities (including Gosport) to assist owner-occupiers repair their homes with a loan, when they are denied access to funds by the usual High Street lenders. 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 (023 92 826180).
The South Coast Money Line leaflet may be downloaded from below, see Related Documents at bottom of page or
click here
Homecheck Scheme This is a free service to ALL 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. (023 92 545506)
HANDYPERSON SERVICE
This is not a grant but a service sponsored by the Council and operated by a registered charity, In Touch. The service was set up in response to Borough residents concerns about finding reliable workmen to carry out small jobs about the house. Telephone (023) 8060 6305.
Who may apply? Any resident (owner-occupier or tenant) over the age of 60 or registered disabled, and in receipt of a pension.
What is covered? Any odd job such as; putting up shelves, 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 might be obtained from Gosport Voluntary Action for a small fee (023 92 601314 or 023 92 523869).
How much? £5 per hour for those in receipt of Income Support, Guaranteed Pension Credit, Council Tax Benefit or Housing benefit. £8 per hour for everyone else.
HELP WITH 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.
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:
For a paper version of any of these information sheets, you may contact Private Sector Housing, contact details below.
For information and advice please contact-
Private Sector Housing Team
Housing Services Unit
Town Hall
High Street
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 1EB
Tel: (023) 9258 4242
Fax: (023) 9254 5285
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.
April 2007
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