Assistance for Home Owners
The Council's loan/grant policy for 2009-2010 has been agreed and is available to view here:
An outline of the help available is shown below. Should you wish to apply for assistance, or for further details, please contact the Environmental Health Housing Team at:
environmental.health@southhams.gov.uk or telephone us on 01803 861234.
Work that could be financed
If you are a home owner on a low income and your home is in need of essential work, the Council may be able to help. For example: if you have an outside WC, old and/or dangerous electrics, a very bad roof leak, no hot water, or a serious damp problem, the Council may be able to help you improve your home to bring it up to the Decent Homes Standard.
For further information see:
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The Type of Finance Available
South Hams District Council, in partnership with Wessex Home Improvement Loans, is giving financial assistance in the form of low cost loans to carry out essential repairs. There is, however, a small safety net grant called Minor Works Assistance (MWA) that is only available to owner occupiers who do not qualify for a subsidised loan.
Wessex Home Improvement Loans is a not for profit organisation which delivers loan schemes for Local Authorities in the South West of England.
Loan Assistance -- to remedy decent home standard failure
An Officer from the Environmental Health Department will visit to determine, in agreement with the house owner, what work to the property is appropriate. Loan assistance will be made available to households whose homes do not meet the Decent Homes Standard.
To qualify the following criteria must be met:
- The applicant must own and occupy the property as their sole residence,
- The applicant must have sufficient disposable income to cover the loan repayments, based on the assessment made by the Wessex Home Improvement Loans Officer
- The applicant must not have a disposable income in excess of £125 per week.
- Must have sufficient equity available in the property to secure the loan.
Wessex Home Improvement Loans will make an assessment of the household’s financial circumstances and the amount and type of loan available will depend on the outcome of this assessment.
The minimum loan available is £1000, and the maximum loan value is £15,000 at any one time or in a 10 year period if multiple loan applications are made.
Loan limits will be subject to a Wessex assessment of affordability to meet repayments and sufficient equity available upon which to secure the loan.
In some circumstances Minor Works Assistance may be given in conjunction with a loan, for example where the maximum loan offered by Wessex based on client affordability does not cover the full cost of the work
Loan Assistance – help for first time buyers or key workers
Loan assistance will be made available to households who have not owner occupied a property during the previous three year period and whose new homes fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard. The procedure and qualification criteria are as shown above.
Minor Works Assistance (MWA)
As stated above, there is a small safety net grant called Minor Works Assistance (MWA) that is only available to owner occupiers who do not qualify for a subsidised loan, or the loan does not cover the full cost of the work. Unsecured grant is available for amounts up to £2,000; secured grant is available (subject to a local land charge) for amounts over £2,000 and up to a maximum of £15,000.
Eligible work will include works necessary to reduce or remove a Category 1 Hazard* or remedy essential items of disrepair**.
*Category 1 Hazards are determined in accordance with guidance under the Housing Act 2004, by a careful assessment of risk.
**Disrepair could include: leaking roofs/rain water goods, defective standard amenities, defective windows/external doors, defective heating systems (including assistance to access Warm Front grants), safety and security deficiencies, and other matters.
Care & Repair in South Hams
If you feel worried or concerned about the process of applying for Financial Assistance from the Council, you may wish to apply via Care & Repair. They will act as agents for you and help you through the process. For example, filling in the application forms and getting estimates for the works from the builders. The Council will pay their fees for you if you decide to take this option.
For further information see: |
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