Eligibility
To make an application for housing assistance the eligibility criteria for the assistance must be met.
An application for assistance shall be in a form prescribed by the Council and must include the following:
- A completed application form including details of the applicant, the property, financial information and a signed declaration by the applicant (where necessary). Where the applicant has an owner’s interest all other persons with an owner’s interest are required to sign the declaration also.
- Full particulars including, where relevant, plans and specifications, of the works for which assistance is sought (“the eligible works”).
- At least two estimates from different contractors showing a breakdown of the cost of carrying out the eligible works, unless the Council otherwise agrees to only one estimate, in any particular case. Please note that estimates from contractors with a known connection to the applicant are not acceptable.
- Full particulars of any professional fees and other charges/ expenses which relate to the preparation for and carrying out of the eligible works.
- Consent in writing from all the owners of the dwelling and any tenant, to the carrying out of the eligible works.
- A declaration to be signed confirming agreement to the housing assistance conditions and to repay the assistance if the conditions are breached.
- A declaration to be signed confirming the property is to be used as a dwelling.
- If the applicant is a landlord, a written agreement to make available for letting the dwelling as a residence throughout the period referred to in the detailed housing assistance scheme following the date of completion of works or such other period of time as may be agreed between the applicant and the Council.
Where the dwelling to which an application relates is a shared ownership property, the applicant should, unless extenuating circumstances apply, have lived in the property for at least five years before the date of application for assistance. This does not apply to a disabled facilities grant or Home Safety Assistance.
Where the dwelling to which an application relates is a mobile home/caravan or houseboat, the following eligibility criteria will apply:
- the applicant should, unless extenuating circumstances apply, for example if the applicant is deemed as vulnerable because of health risks and/or age, have lived in the mobile home/caravan or houseboat for at least five years before the date of application for financial assistance. This does not apply to any assistance provided to adapt a property to meet the needs of a person with a disability; and
- the mobile home/caravan or houseboat should be on an authorised site or mooring which is for permanent residential use; and
- financial assistance will not be provided where the works required are to meet the requirements of a caravan site licence under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
Cases that fall outside of this policy but which exhibit special extenuating circumstances will be reported to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health for a decision.