PRIVATE SECTOR GRANTS
Horsham District Council provides a range of grants and assistance to people who own or live in private accommodation. A specific cash limit is set annually by the Council. Whilst it is primarily the responsibility of homeowners to maintain their own properties, the Council is able to assist vulnerable and poorer homeowners with repairs and improvements, especially where this benefits health or allows people to remain in their own homes.
What Assistance is Available?
Repair Assistance
This is available to improve living conditions to meet the Decent Homes Standard and to alleviate serious risks to health and safety. It is available to owner-occupiers who have owned and occupied their property for at least three years preceding an application. This assistance is subject to a means test. Repair Assistance is offered up to a maximum of £20,000 per dwelling over a ten year period. All Repair Assistance must be repaid when there is a change of ownership.
Minor Repair Assistance
This is available to people over 60 years of age and vulnerable/ disadvantaged households in receipt of a means tested benefit. It is available for small-scale works of repair, improvement and adaptation, to assist people to remain in their home. Minor Repair Assistance is offered up to a maximum of £3,000 per dwelling over a five year period, and is available to both owner-occupiers and tenants. Applicants must have occupied the dwelling for at least one year prior to an application. For Minor Repair Assistance there are no conditions of repayment.
Empty Property Grants
These are available to landlords to bring empty property back into use. These grants will normally be 50% of the cost of the eligible works, up to a maximum of £10,000. For properties to be eligible they must be in need of repair or improvement and have been empty for a minimum of twelve months. In certain circumstances, higher grants may be awarded of up to 100% of the cost of the works to a maximum of £30,000. The conditions on Empty Properties Grants will be dependent on the cost of the works, and will involve leasing the property to the Council for a period up to five years, or should the council not require the property, the grant must be repaid when there is a change of ownership.
Landlord HMO Grants
These are available for works related to fire precautions or means of escape in case of fire. These grants will normally be 50% of the cost of eligible works, up to a maximum of £5,000. The property must be let as an HMO for five years following completion of the works, and must be repaid if the conditions are breached.
Landlord Repair Assistance
This is available to landlords to remedy serious risks to health and safety where action pursuant to section 5 of the Housing Act 2004 is required and it would be unreasonable to expect the landlord to secure improvements. The assistance is available to landlords where the property is let to a secure tenant on a regulated rent. Assistance will normally be 50% of the cost of the eligible works, up to a maximum of £10,000. The property must be let for a period of at least five years following completion of the works, and must be repaid if the conditions are breached or the property changes ownership.
Heating and Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency improvements are addressed primarily by promoting nationally available grants and discount schemes. Free and independent advice is available to all residents through the designated officer of the Council and the West Sussex Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.
Disabled Facilities Grants
Available to help disabled people to live more independently in their own home. The Council can provide a grant to pay for works recommended by West Sussex County Council’s Occupational Therapists for disabled people receiving means-tested benefits or who have a low income according to our financial assessment. Contact OT Connect for an assessment of your needs on 01903 839100, or check eligibility with us first.
Moving Home Assistance
Where a person owns their own home and qualifies for a Disabled Facilities Grant but their existing home is unsuitable and a move to different accommodation would be a better alternative to adaptation, financial assistance up to £5,000 is available towards the cost of moving. Such assistance would be by way of a grant, and would be repayable should the property be sold within five years of completion of the move.
Will I have to repay a Grant or Financial Assistance?
There are a variety of grants and financial assistance available, some are repayable and some are not. Grants or assistance below £3,000 do not usually need to be repaid unless the conditions of the grant are broken. Larger grants or financial assistance are usually issued on the basis that they are repaid when the property is sold.
More Information
If you would like more information on the range of grants and assistance available, contact the Council on (01403) 215405 or see our Private Sector Assistance Policy which provides a detailed guide to the grants available.