Financial Assistance
Responsibility for maintaining private sector homes rests
with house owners. However, in certain circumstances the
Council may be able to assist with the cost of repairs by way of a
loan or a grant or by providing other assistance
including access to loans.
Currently grants are targeted at older persons, those on a low
incomes and people with a disabilities. Landlords are also
eligible for grant in certain circumstances.
The purpose of awarding grants or accessing a loan is
to:
- Carry out essential repairs
- Undertake improvements to unfit properties
- Help older people remain in their homes
- Provide adaptations to allow people with disabilities remain in
their own homes
- Provide additional amenities and fire precautions in Houses in
Multiple Occupation
Grants and discounts are also available from Warm
Front and your fuel supplier for:
- Cavity wall, water pipe, tank and loft insulation
- Draught proofing
- Central heating
The following Council grants are available:
Available to owners who are in receipt of certain
benefits and older persons who are unable to access other forms of
financial assistance.
- Disabled Facilities Grant:
To provide adaptations for disabled people so that they can
remain in their own homes. Applicants must be referred by an
Occupational Therapist from Social Services.
Take a look at the
Guide to Disabled Facilities
Grants booklet. If you would
like a printed copy please
Contact us.
Available to landlords for the provision of additional
amenities and fire precautions.
Home Owners:
A test of financial resources determines how much you can
afford to pay towards the cost of the eligible works. Should
the cost of the work exceed the amount you can afford, a grant may
be awarded or a loan option offered to make up the
difference. The test is regulated by central government and
takes into account the following information:
Family details
- Single/married
- Number and age of dependants
Income
- Net employment income
- Amount of benefits received
- Miscellaneous unearned income
- Other income such as pensions
Capital/Savings/Investments
- Bank and Building Society savings
- Investments such as shares and premium bonds
- The value of other property
Outgoings
- Average weekly family expenditure.
Landlords:
The means test for landlords is calculated from the rental
income derived from the property. The Rent Officer will estimate by
how much the rent can be increased as a result of works being
carried out. The extra rent will determine how much you can afford
to pay towards the cost of the eligible works. Should the cost of
the work exceed the amount you can afford from the extra rent, a
grant may be awarded or a loan option offered to make up the
difference.
Disabled Facilities
Grants
These grants are for home
adaptations for people who are, or could be, registered disabled
and who, without them, would be unable to live independently.
Applicants must be referred by an Occupational Therapist.
Email
us for more information.
Typical works include:
- Installing stair lifts
- Replacing a bath with a level access shower
- Providing bathroom facilities on the ground floor
- Widening doorways
- Providing ramps.
Do I qualify for
grant?
Anyone can apply for a Disabled
Facilities Grant but your need for an adaptation must first be
agreed with an Occupational Therapist from Hampshire County
Council, Social Services Department. You do not need to be
registered disabled.
How much grant will I
receive?
People with a disability that
requires their home to be adapted are legally entitled to a grant
up to £25,000. A grant in excess of £25,000 can be awarded at
the discretion of the Council.
DFG Grants advice
booklet
f you would like a printed copy
please Contact us.
Houses in Multiple
Occupation (HOM) Grants
HMO grants are available to
landlords for the provision of additional amenities such as extra
kitchen and bathroom facilities and for fire precautions to give
warning in the event of fire and provide a safe means of
escape.
Do I qualify for
grant?
All HMO landlords qualify for this
grant but:
- On completion of the works you must continue to rent out the
property for at least 5 years
- You must consider tenants who have been nominated by the
Council
- If you fail to do either of the above you may have to repay the
grant.
How much grant will I
receive?
The grant will cover 50% of the
total cost of the work that is considered necessary to achieve the
council's adopted standards.
Financial Assistance
Policy
Home Improvement Agency
In Touch, Community Support
Services is contracted to the Council to help people
with disabilities to live independently and older people to remain
living safely and securely in their own homes.
They offer a range of services from
accessing finance for carrying out repairs and adaptations, to
helping you with completing applications for grant aid and finding
contractors to do the work.
If you qualify for a grant the
Agency's fees can be included so that their service does not cost
you anything.
In addition In Touch provide Handy
Person and Gardening Services.
The following booklets are
available:
SFT HIA booklet
Home Safe Scheme booklet
Gardening Service booklet
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Page Last Updated: 9/4/2007
Eastleigh Borough Council
legal disclaimer
Website Comments: webmaster@eastleigh.gov.uk
Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN
Telephone:023 8068 8068; Fax:023 8068 8257; Text:07797 877001
Email:
direct@eastleigh.gov.uk