A Renovation Grant is a discretionary grant which is available where large scale works are required to make a house fit for habitation or to put a dwelling into reasonable repair.
House Renovation Grants may be available if your home is in serious disrepair and deemed unfit to live in and you, the owner or occupier, cannot afford to pay for the essential repairs. Only the most serious defects qualify; such as the lack of a bath or an inside toilet, or the presence of extensive dampness.
An applicant's income is taken into account when determining whether council assistance is appropriate. We have a policy in place to ensure these discretionary grants are fairly awarded and comply with the Central Government scheme which spells out the conditions that must apply when grants are awarded.
More information on who is eligible for grants|
Applicants must be over 18 years and have been an owner-occupier for 3 years or more on the date of the application.
Applicants under 60 years of age are required to source equity release - if the lender refuses the request then you may be eligible for a grant.
Anyone over 60 years of age may also be eligible for equity release, which can be used to top up a grant.
'Equity release' schemes are a special category of loan to owner-occupiers.
If an applicant has a mortgage which is well below the value of their property they may be able to get a 'further advance' that allows them to fund necessary repairs.
All applicants including joint property owners will be subject to a test of resources that calculates the financial contribution they will have to make towards the eligible costs of the works required.
You should not assume that you will automatically qualify for a grant, as they are means tested.
The maximum assistance available is £20,000*. At least £1,000 needs to be spent to meet the decent homes standard.
* An applicant over the age of 60 years will qualify for a grant up to £5,000, any further monies required to meet the decent homes standard will need to be found by other means, this could be available through the Government Home Improvement Trust House Proud Scheme.
The first £5,000 is repayable with interest, if the property should change owners within 5 years. Any grant monies in excess of this will always be repayable when the property changes owners.
If the costs of the eligible works are less than the applicant's calculated contribution no grant will be paid. If the cost of the work exceeds the maximum grant payable the applicant must pay the balance.
Private Sector Housing Team
Roycraft House
15 Linton Road
Barking
IG11 8HE
Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:
Tel: 020 8215 3002
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk|
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.
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© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470