Homeowner Grants?

Badsaver

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can help. My house was bought by my grandfather as part of an 'early' inheritance and I own 40% of it for now. The gas and electrics were not properly checked before we moved in here, we had a gas leak when we first moved in. The electrics dont seem to be great either with one of the old style fuse boxes. We have just had the smell of an 'electrical burning' coming from the landing light. I cant afford to get my house re-wired as my partner is ill and off work at the minutes, I have a seven year old living in the house aswell. We have also found some 'dodgy' wiring whilst we have been renovating.

Are there any grants I can get to help with this? I am working and my partner is currently on SSP although he is still employed.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

welshmoneylover

Badsaver wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can help. My house was bought by my grandfather as part of an 'early' inheritance and I own 40% of it for now. The gas and electrics were not properly checked before we moved in here, we had a gas leak when we first moved in. The electrics dont seem to be great either with one of the old style fuse boxes. We have just had the smell of an 'electrical burning' coming from the landing light. I cant afford to get my house re-wired as my partner is ill and off work at the minutes, I have a seven year old living in the house aswell.

Are there any grants I can get to help with this? I am working and my partner is currently on SSP although he is still employed.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

No I don't think so.

Can you take a 2nd job and pay for it yourself or ask your family to help out?

somethingcorporate

Give a sparky a call to check it out to find out quite how urgent / dangerous it is.

My house was appallingly wired decades ago. Bit annoying but not dangerous and certainly does not warrant immediate remedy.

Badsaver

somethingcorporate wrote: »

Give a sparky a call to check it out to find out quite how urgent / dangerous it is.

My house was appallingly wired decades ago. Bit annoying but not dangerous and certainly does not warrant immediate remedy.

As bad as this sounds - does it cost a lot to get it assessed? Its not me being tight - I actually have no money to pay them! Plus I need to find a proper one that wont rip me off!!

Dunroamin

If you only own 40% of it, who owns the other 60%? If it's your grandfather, then he should share the cost of the rewiring.

Badsaver

Dunroamin wrote: »

If you only own 40% of it, who owns the other 60%? If it's your grandfather, then he should share the cost of the rewiring.

Yes - but he bought the house and just put 40% in my name. I wouldnt want to take anything more off him.... He will get no gain from the house

skintandscared_2

Could you re-mortgage on your 40% share to raise enough to do the repairs? It was probably a bit of a mistake to buy a house that needed so much work, without the capital available to do it. A basic survey would have shown the state of the gas and electrics.

You have to realise that the "pot" is pretty small at the moment, and even the most vulnerable are having benefits cut left, right and centre. People who own their own houses need to pay for the upkeep and repairs themselves. After all, it's only you and your grandfather who will benefit from the home improvements with an increase in the value of your house!

Mara69

Badsaver wrote: »

As bad as this sounds - does it cost a lot to get it assessed? Its not me being tight - I actually have no money to pay them! Plus I need to find a proper one that wont rip me off!!

Well, you'll need to find the money from somewhere - especially as there is a child living in the property. Have you got working smoke alarms?

Use Rated People to source a decent contractor.

Dunroamin

Badsaver wrote: »

Yes - but he bought the house and just put 40% in my name. I wouldnt want to take anything more off him.... He will get no gain from the house

He'll lose a lot if it goes up in flames!

Anyway, as your landlord (which he mostly is) he has certain responsibilities regarding the state of the house.

skintmacflint

You could ask an electician for a free estimate which would give you an idea of the cost of fixing anything that needs fixed urgently.