Grants for Dilapidated Property?

fastcom

My first post here

My wife and I are looking to get onto the property ladder and are looking at a property close to her parents place in Merseyside. The property is a terraced property which has fallen into partial ruin through the previous owner (an old lady) moving into sheltered accommodation.

There are holes in the roof, the windows and doors are boarded up etc but we've taken a shine to it and have agreed a very favourable price. My dad is of the opinion that there may be grants available for bringing the property back to its former glory, but I wouldn't have the first idea where to look.

Is it correct that grants may be available? And if so where can I research this?

Thank you in advance.

Suzy_M

Council web sites to start with. Also try a web search for "regeneration" in the area - it may throw up something else.

fishpond

As has already been mentioned. Talk to the housing dept of the local council.

fastcom

I've checked with the council, and their website, and there appears to be nothing available. The local house regeneration lady appears to spend more time on holiday than in work...

Is there anywhere I can check for more national schemes?

m_13

Which council is it? Most councils offer some form of grants to bring properties that have been empty for 2 years (some only 6 months if the area is in dire need of property) or more up to modern standards. For some councils you have to already own the property, for some you have to intend to let it out afterwards and others you need to live in it afterwards; different schemes have different rules for for all you have to pay back monies if you sell within a set period.

The Empty Home Agency is there to assist with getting empty homes back into occupation. On their 'get involved' page they outline getting finance to buy an empty property and also information on grants. However, it does say to get started with the local council!

If the property has been empty for more than 10 years you should be able to reclaim the VAT on renovating it. More information on the HMRC website here.

fastcom

Thank you for your reply. The council is Wirral Metropolitan.

Thank you for those links, I'd already checked out the EHA link

m_13

I'm guessing you've found their Empty Properties webpage?

They also have information on their priority areas in Tranmere and Seacombe together with parts of the Bidston and Liscard Wards which benefit from the initiative.:

Grants for privately owned properties may be awarded at our discretion, which are identified as regeneration or strategy areas, which Council members have decided should receive priority.

Is the property in one of these areas?

However:

What assistance does Wirral Council offer?
Over the recent years, the government has reduced the money available to local authorities for grants. They have also changed the law so that Local Authorities are no longer required to give people a grant to repair their homes if they are unfit.

Some discretionary grants are still available in special circumstances. It is anticipated that less and less will be available in the future.

It may be helpful to know the criteria for an 'unfit' home:

The fitness standard as defined by Section 604 of the Housing Act 1985 and amended by the Local Government And Housing Act 1989 states that:
"A dwelling house is fit for human habitation and unless, in the opinion of the local housing authority, it fails to meet one or more of the requirements in paragraphs (1) to (9) below and, by reason of that failure, is not reasonably suitable for occupation".
The requirements as stated are:

1. it is structurally stable
2. it is free from serious disrepair
3. it is free from dampness prejudicial to the health of the occupants (if any)
4. it has adequate provision for lighting, heating and ventilation
5. it has an adequate piped supply of wholesome water
6. there are satisfactory facilities in the dwelling-house for the preparation and cooking of food, including a sink with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water
7. it has a suitably located water-closet for the exclusive use of the occupants (if any)
8. it has, for the exclusive use of the occupants (if any), a suitably located fixed bath or shower and wash-hand basin each of which is provided with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water; and
9. it has an effective system for the draining of foul, waste and surface water

Any reference to a dwelling-house being unfit for human habitation shall be construed accordingly.

Serious disrepair is not legally defined although it has come to be accepted that a property in serious disrepair will be in such a state as to warrant intervention to mitigate unfitness.

I've checked on DirectGov: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/GrantsFundsAndStandards/index.htm but the grants are discretionary and Wirral MBC don't do them!

I think that you may be out of luck in finding a grant other than one for energy efficiency unless the property is one which heritage people would be interested in.

mlz1413

I did up a house in 2005 that was in a bad state of affairs and I was told as it had an inside loo it was not egliable for grants.

The fact it was damp, had wood worm, the roof leaked and the only reason the loo was inside was because the outside loo door had been bricked up and a new doorway made through the kitchen didn't seem to count.

You still might be able to get cheap rate loft insulation as that makes the house eco friendly which is being heavily pushed at the moment, but again don't consider it a done deal as there are limits of how big the loft access has to be and again most original terrace house accesses are too small.

All that said, I love my home now it is all done up and I hope it works out for you, it's really satisfying to see it all done up - dry and warm too!