Renovation Grants

olgadapolga

Hi,

We are trying to work out if we can afford to apply for a renovation grant from our local council. Does anyone happen to know how councils calculate a home owner's contribution to these?

I am fairly certain that, given our income and savings, we would have to make a contribution towards the cost of the work required for our home but would like to know approximately how much this would be.

Advance thanks for any replies!

never_enough

Most councils have websites so you may be able to get more info from that. The other thing to bear in mind is that because of reduced funding in this area there is usually a huge waiting list. I have known a few people get these but have to wait 3-5 years.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

I have known a few people get these but have to wait 3-5 years...............TRUE


Best time to enquire is at the beginning of the financial year, never phone on a Monday, always a Friday :rolleyes: A lot of council staff can be more helpful at the end of the week, rather than the beginning of the week:p

Poppy9

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD wrote: »

I have known a few people get these but have to wait 3-5 years...............TRUE


Best time to enquire is at the beginning of the financial year, never phone on a Monday, always a Friday :rolleyes: A lot of council staff can be more helpful at the end of the week, rather than the beginning of the week:p

As a LA finance worker I disagree with waiting till April as they will have all the applicants from the previous financial years in the queue ready to go. A waiting list is a waiting list. You may find you fare better in November when councils do their revised budgets and can determine any surplus availabe. Panic spending often kicks in around Feb as different departments don't want to lose their budgets and some committed spend has not materialised.

Also don't ring on a Friday afternoon as we too have that Friday afternoon feeling. We wind down and it's a long time till Monday to remember to sending something out!! I would go for a Wednesday. Everyone is happy that they are halfway through the week and work to clear their desks by Friday!

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

As a LA finance work


Do you mean worker ? THANKS FOR THE EDIT.

Poppy9

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD wrote: »

As a LA finance work


Do you mean worker ?

Not on Tuesday's!!!

(I work and get paid for part-time hours!)

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Not on Tuesday's!!!

(I work and get paid for part-time hours!)


Most LA workers In South Lanarkshire I know off, are available part time and are paid full time hours..............


FUNNY INNIT:D

olgadapolga

never_enough wrote: »

Most councils have websites so you may be able to get more info from that.

I have looked at dozens of council websites but none seem to state the actual calculation. They just say that if your income is greater than the amount the govt say you need to live on (I forget what this is called) then you may have to make a contribution. But nowhere does it state how they work this out.

Noozan

Does anyone know if Fife Council offer anything like this as I can't find anything on their website. TIA!

Poppycat

We got a grant many years ago, it took about 2-3 years (this was about 13 years ago) and we were assessed on need, and income. We managed to get a new damp course, a small kitchen extension (kitchen was tiny and we had small children), full rewiring etc. By the time we got the grant we were again assessed and because our incomes had changed we paid less.

EDIT if you do get a grant and you leave and sell the property before 10 years of the works you may have to pay it back

This is what my council states

Renovation Grant

The Council has a legal duty to deal with dwellings that are deemed not to meet the statutory minimum standard for housing. It is therefore considered that financial assistance should be available to help with this. Renovation Grants are therefore currently available subject to the following criteria:-

• Eligibility - grants will be made available to owner/occupiers who have been in residence for at least three years. The applicant or a member of the household must be in receipt of at least one of the principle income related or disability related benefits. The property must have failed the decent home standard as defined by the ODPM and be capable of repair/renovation at reasonable expense. All applicants must be willing to undergo a means test. (For ease the nationally prescribed means test used for DFG applicants will be used for this purpose.) Note – the residency requirement and the requirements relating to the receipt of benefits are not applicable if the grant is being offered under the Councils Empty Homes Strategy.
  
• Scope – works eligible for grant aid will include all renovations and repairs necessary to make the property decent.
• Grant Limits – the maximum amount of assistance per grant is £30,000.
• Conditions – the grant will be registered as a local land charge and will be repayable in full if the property is sold within ten years of completion of the works. The property during that ten years must remain the sole residence of the owner or his/her immediate family.