You are here:

Home > Housing > Improvements and Repairs > Home improvements - home repair assistance grant

• Improvements and Repairs
  • Accomodation certificates - fitness for human habitation
  • Caretaking services
  • Council housing - home modernisation
  • Council housing - tenancy issues
  • Disabled people - home adaptions and aids
  • Garden maintenance
  • Home improvements - disability facility grant for a private property
  • Home improvements - home repair assistance grant
  • Home safety advice
  • Housing - information and advice
  • Housing benefit - change of circumstances
  • Housing benefit - new claim
  • Housing repairs - council property

Home improvements - home repair assistance grant

One of the priorities for Hambleton District Council is to ensure that all residents in the district live in a decent home. A Decent Home is defined as one which is wind and weather tight, warm and has reasonably modern facilities. We are currently looking at ways to increase the number of owner occupied or privately rented homes that meet the Decent Homes Standard by providing financial assistance through our Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy Opens in a new window. The financial assistance available aims to improve housing conditions, particularly where vulnerable people are living.

The Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy will be revised in accordance with the North Yorkshire Housing Strategy. Click here for more information on the strategy Opens in a new window.

For those homeowners who are unable to access traditional lenders to pay for such improvements, a Property Enhancement Loan or Home Appreciation Loan may be available. The Property Enhancement Loan is an interest free loan of up to £6000 (in any three year period) provided to undertake essential repairs for defects that are hazardous or can affect the health of the occupants. Available to homeowners (and long leaseholders) when in receipt of an income related benefit. Further information can be found in the following leaflet:

Property Enhancement Loan leaflet Opens in a new window

The Home Appreciation Loan is available for any homeowner who meets our vulnerability criteria, own and are resident in their own home and where there is enough available equity in their property to secure a loan.

Loans are available to help:

* Owner-occupiers carry out essential work to their homes.
* Bring their home up to the governments Decent Home Standard.
* Eliminate Category 1 Hazards within the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System.
* Meet the cost of your contribution for disabled adaptation work, where grant funding is insufficient.

To qualify, you must not be able to access a loan through a commercial lender.

Click here to access the Homes and Loans website for further information and leaflets on the Home Appreciation Loan

This Department also administers Disabled Facilities Grants. Homeowners and tenants can claim a grant (maximum of £25,000) to help with the cost of adaptations that have been recommended by the Community Occupational Therapist. The amount of grant is established by a means test calculation, which works out whether you will be asked to make a contribution towards the cost of works.

Environmental Health Services, Civic Centre, Stone Cross, Northallerton DL6 2UU. Telephone 0845 1211 555

National Body for Care and Repair Agencies Opens in a new window - housing information for older and disabled people.

York Energy Advice Centre Opens in a new window - advice on energy saving measures and financial assistance.