1
Introduction
1.1
Purpose
1.1.1
This policy is required under
Article 4 of the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England
and Wales) Order 2002[i]. The Order provides
councils with the discretion to develop schemes to provide
financial assistance to deal with a range of housing
issues.
1.1.2
This policy sets out the areas
on which the council will focus Better Care Fund resources in order
to improve housing conditions across the district. With limited
resources available it is essential that funding is targeted to
those areas that contribute to the delivery of the Better Care
Fund, and local district council priorities.
1.1.3
This policy provides the
council with the flexibility and discretion to provide appropriate
assistance to meet the aims and priorities set out in section 3
below and has been developed in association with Devon County
Council and all the district councils in the county.
1.2
Review
1.2.1
This policy will be reviewed as
required by regulatory changes and/or financial
allocations.
1.3
Funding
1.3.1
The assistance contained within
this policy is only available subject to the availability of
funding. Where funding is limited priority for spend will be given
to the Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant.
2
Context
2.1
Housing and Health
2.1.1
Housing is a key determinant of
health, and by promoting good quality housing this policy can
contribute to reducing health inequalities for
residents.
2.1.2
In 2002, flexibilities were
introduced[ii] enabling councils to
use government grant that has been allocated for disabled
facilities grants to be used more intelligently to deliver
adaptations for disabled people outside of the mandatory grant
regime.
2.1.3
Research has shown that there
is a direct impact on the health and well-being of residents
resulting from the homes in which they live; therefore, poor
housing can contribute to poor health.
2.1.4
Each year hazards in the home
result in unnecessary injuries, episodes of ill-health, and harm to
mental health and in many cases the occupiers do not link the poor
condition of their homes with a potential negative impact on their
health. The poorest housing stock can be found in the private
sector, and in some cases residents who own their own home are not
able to maintain them and as a result hazards can
develop.
2.1.5
An estimated 50,100 excess
winter deaths were recorded in England and Wales in 2017/18 as
reported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS)[iii]. Many of these
people die unnecessarily as a result of living in cold
homes.
2.2
Better
Care Fund
2.2.1
In 2015 the government
introduced the Better Care Fund in an attempt to bring health and
social care together in an integrated way. The fund is a
combination of government funding from the Department of Health and
the Department for Communities and Local Government and includes
the grant allocation for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG). The
2017-19 Integration and Better Care Fund policy framework document
lists the conditions that the better care fund must be used to
address.
2.2.2
These are:
·
Condition
1:Plans to be
jointly agreed – The plan to use the Better Care Fund
allocation must be jointly agreed and signed off by the Health and
Wellbeing Board, and constituent councils and clinical
commissioning groups. The local housing authority must also be
involved due to the inclusion of the Disabled Facilities Grants
allocation, which forms part of the fund
·
Condition 2:
NHS contribution to social care
is maintained in line with inflation. The funding must be used to
contribute to the maintenance of adult social care services in each
local authority, which also has a health benefit. However, beyond
this broad condition, the Department of Health and Social Care
(DHSC) wants to provide flexibility for local areas to determine
how this investment in adult social care services is best
used.
·
Condition
3:Agreement to
invest in NHS commissioned out of hospital services, which may
include 7 day services and adult social care. This should be
achieved by funding NHS commissioned out-of-hospital services,
which may also include 7-day services and adult social care, as
part of the agreed Better Care Fund plan.
·
Condition
4:Managing Transfers
of Care - Plans should set out how local partners will work
together to fund and implement transfers of care
effectively.
2.2.3
More detail can be found in the
Integration and Better Care Fund Policy Framework.
2.2.4
Based on these broad
conditions, Devon County Council and the District Councils have
identified an opportunity to provide additional grant and loan
products to meet these conditions and deliver against the Devon
Health and Wellbeing Board priorities.
2.3
Delayed transfers of care.
2.3.1
Delayed transfers of care, occur when a patient is
medically ready to leave in patient care but is still
occupying a bed. According to NHS England, a patient is ready to
depart when:
a.
A clinical decision has been
made that the patient is ready for transfer AND
b.
A multi-disciplinary team
decision has been made that the patient is ready for transfer,
AND
c.
The patient is safe to
discharge/transfer.
2.3.2
In 2016/17 there were 2.3
million delayed days in England with 1.3 million of these
attributable to the NHS, averaging around 6,200 delayed transfers
of care per day with around 3,600 of these attributable to the
NHS.
2.3.3
The longer a person stays in
hospital the more detrimental this can be in terms of morale,
mobility, and an increase in the risk of hospital-acquired
infections.
2.3.4
Older people are particularly
susceptible to negative effects around mobility with studies
suggesting that a wait of more than two days negates the benefit of
intermediate care, and a wait of seven days or more is associated
with a 10% decline in muscle strength.
2.3.5
Delayed transfers of care are
also costly for hospital trusts as insufficient beds can mean
elective procedures need to be cancelled, resulting in the hospital
trust losing these as a source of income.
2.3.6
A survey in 2015 by the
Guardian found that at least 10% of beds were occupied by patients
who were ready to be discharged and the NHS providers’
audited accounts for 2016/17 estimated that delayed transfers of
care cost £173 million.
2.3.7
Much of the recent debate
around delayed transfers of care attributes rising numbers to
pressures in social care.
2.3.8
The number of delayed days
attributable to waits for care packages or equipment and adaptation
is over 500,000; up around 50% from the previous year (based on
2016/17 data).
3
Priorities
3.1
General
3.1.1
In Devon, the Better Care Fund
priorities aim to achieve the following outcomes:
·
Reduced admissions to
residential and nursing care homes
·
Reduce delayed transfers of
care
·
Reduce avoidable emergency
admissions
·
Increase dementia diagnosis
rates
3.1.2
To meet these priorities this
policy aims to focus on the following areas:
·
Objective 1
– Assist disabled
residents to remain in their own homes through supporting the
provision of adaptations (so far as this is necessary, appropriate
and reasonably practicable) to prevent admissions to care and to
assist with delayed transfers where possible.
·
Objective 2
– Safeguard the health
and well-being of vulnerable residents by removing unnecessary
hazards to health and safety in the home to reduce avoidable
emergency admissions
·
Objective 3
– Provide adaptations
that are suitable for the future by ensuring the scheme of works is
dementia aware.
·
Objective 4
– Assist vulnerable
people to afford to heat their homes through appropriate energy
efficiency and heating measures.
4
Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants
4.1
Background
4.1.1
The delivery of the disabled
facilities grant programme is mandatory and a statutory function of
the local housing authority. The delivery of this function is
governed by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act
1996.
4.2
Eligibility
4.2.1
Any disabled resident seeking
financial assistance with the cost of adaptations to their home
must be assessed by an Occupational Therapist (OT) working on
behalf of, or approved by Devon County Council.
4.2.2
For the purposes of the
Disabled Facilities Grant a person is considered disabled if they
meet any of the following criteria:
·
their sight, hearing or speech
is substantially impaired,
·
they have a mental
disorder or impairment of any kind, or
·
they are physically
substantially disabled by illness, injury, impairment present since
birth, or otherwise.
4.2.3
A person under the age of
eighteen shall be considered disabled if:
·
they are on a register of
disabled children maintained under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the
Children Act 1989, or
·
they are in the opinion of the
social services authority a disabled child as defined for the
purposes of Part III of the Children Act 1989 (local authority
support for children and their families).
4.2.4
All owner-occupiers, tenants,
licensees or occupiers who meet the above criteria are eligible to
apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.
4.3
Conditions
4.3.1
All grants other than those for
children are subject to a test of financial resources, which is
prescribed by The Housing Renewal Grants Regulations
1996.
4.3.2
The grant maximum is
£30,000.
4.3.3
The disabled person must intend
to occupy the property as their only or main residence for a period
of five years after the works are complete (or such shorter period
as the person’s health or other relevant circumstances
permit).
4.3.4
In order to make an application
the applicant must supply the following:
·
A completed and signed
application form
·
Evidence of financial
situation
·
Evidence of ownership of the
property or the right to reside at the property
·
Permission for the works to be
carried out (if applicable)
·
For more complex works; a
detailed schedule of works and plans that must be agreed by the
council
·
Any planning or building
regulation approvals
·
Tenders for the works unless
using an agreed procurement framework.
4.3.5
Only the works agreed by the
council will be covered by the grant.
4.3.6
If the grant is approved there
are 12 months to complete the works.
4.3.7
The works must be completed by
the contractor stated on the approval document
4.3.8
No grant works should proceed
until the grant application has been processed and all relevant
planning, Building Regulation or landlord approval has been
obtained.
4.3.9
If the applicant has a
financial contribution towards the cost of adaptations they must
ensure they have funds in place to cover their share of the costs
before the work begins on site.
4.3.10
Subject to conditions, a loan
from Lendology Community Interest Company may be available to cover
an assessed financial contribution to a grant. See section 8 for
further details.
4.3.11
Unforeseen and additional costs
will only be paid for where they are necessary to complete the
adaptation and must be agreed by the council before they are
undertaken.
4.3.12
Any increase in the grant may
have an impact on the charge placed against the property (see
4.3.16)
4.3.13
Applicants who are successful
in their application for assistance will be required to maintain
the adaptation.
4.3.14
The contract for the works is
the responsibility of the applicant.
4.3.15
In all but the most exceptional
cases, the council will seek to pay any approved grant funds
directly to contractors on satisfactory completion of works.
4.3.16
No grant will be paid until a
satisfactory invoice has been received and the works have been
carried out to the satisfaction of the Council.
4.3.17
Only works falling within the
mandatory elements, as specified in Appendix A, will be covered by
the grant[iv].
4.3.18
Lifts (stair lifts, step lifts
and through floor lifts) and other equipment funded through the DFG
process will belong to the applicant. Servicing and upkeep is the
responsibility of the applicant. The Council only usually remove
lifts or other equipment if they are able to be economically
refurbished and reused, or in the case of a moving grant, equipment
may be removed to be re-used in the ‘new’ property if
considered an effective use of resources.
4.3.19
Where the grant is in excess of
£5,000 a local land charge will be placed on the property for
the amount over £5,000 up to a maximum of £10,000. This
charge will remain on the property for a period of 10
years.
4.3.20
Where the cost of the work
exceeds the mandatory grant limit of £30,000 the applicant
may be eligible to an Accessible Homes Grant (see section 5),
subject to available funds.
5
Accessible Home Grants
5.1
Background
5.1.1
The Accessible Homes Grant is
available as a top-up to the mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant.
The Accessible Homes Grant is subject to available
funding.
5.1.2
This grant is available in the
following circumstances:
·
Where a mandatory grant has
been approved but the cost of the work exceeds
£30,000
·
Where there are works that may
not be covered by the Disabled Facility Grant in relation to
adapting the home and making it safe.
·
In relation to fees associated
with feasibility works to determine if the adaptation can
proceed.
·
Where the means test identifies
that a contribution is required (see 5.2.4).
·
Where moving house more
appropriate than adapting the existing property (see 7 for Moving
Applications).
5.2
Eligibility
5.2.1
To be eligible for this grant
the applicant must meet the following:
·
The applicant must eligible to
apply for a mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant
5.2.2
All applicants are subject to
the DFG means test, except the parents and/or guardians of a
disabled child, where a means test is not required for the
mandatory DFG. Adult applicants will have been means tested as part
of the formal Disabled Facility Grant application. In the case of a
child’s application the means test will not be applied to the
parents or guardians of the disabled child.
5.2.3
As an alternative to the
adaptation of an applicant’s home, consideration will be
given to the option of re-housing to more appropriate or adapted
accommodation.
5.2.4
An applicant will only be
eligible to apply for additional grant to cover any identified
contribution where the amount of assessed contribution the
applicant has to pay represents at least a third or more of the
applicant’s savings. For example:
An applicant has a means tested contribution of
£1500.00. If the applicant has savings of £4500 or
less, they will be able to access additional grant to cover the
contribution; subject to grant limits and finance
availability.
This is a taper, so in the above example, if the applicant
had £5000 in savings, they would be expected to pay
£500.
5.3
Conditions
5.3.1
The grant maximum is
£30,000. Anything over £30,000 will not attract any
further public grant.
5.3.2
Where additional funding is
required to cover eligible costs over £60,000 (£30,000
from the Disabled Facilities Grant and up to £30,000 from the
Accessible Homes Grant) an application for a Disabled Facilities
Loan can be made.
5.3.3
Evidence supplied by the
Disabled Facility Grant applicant will be used to support the
application for the Accessible Home Grant.
5.3.4
In addition to any land charge
placed on the property under other sections of this policy, a local
land charge will be placed on the property for the full value of
the awarded Accessible Homes Grant. The charge(s) will be repayable
if the property is sold, assigned or transferred within 10 years of
the grant being completed.
5.3.5
Only the works agreed by the
council will be covered by the grant
5.3.6
Eligible works must be
completed within 12 months of the grant being approved.
5.3.7
The works must be completed by
the contractor stated on the approval document, unless otherwise
agreed with the council.
5.3.8
No grant works should proceed
until the grant application has been processed and all relevant
planning, Building Regulation or landlord approval has been
obtained.
5.3.9
Unforeseen and additional costs
will only be paid for where they are necessary to complete the
adaptation and must be agreed by the council before they are
undertaken.
5.3.10
Any increase in the grant may
have an impact on the charge placed against the
property.
5.3.11
Applicants who are successful
in their application for assistance will be responsible for
maintaining the adaptation.
5.3.12
The contract for the works is
the responsibility of the applicant.
5.3.13
The grant will normally be paid
direct to contractors in all but the most exceptional
cases.
5.3.14
The council will only offer
grant funding for those works that are considered appropriate,
reasonable and practicable to meet the needs of the disabled
person.
5.3.15
In all but the most exceptional
cases, the council will seek to pay any approved grant funds
directly to contractors on satisfactory completion of
works.
5.3.16
No grant will be paid until a
satisfactory invoice has been received and the works have been
carried out to the satisfaction of the council.
6
Accessible Homes Grant – Stair lift Grant
6.1.1
This grant provides internal
and external straight track or curved track stair lifts and
through-floor lifts without a means test for the
applicant.
6.1.2
This grant includes provision
of rented stair lifts for end of life care, or other reason, as
specified by the Occupational Therapist.
6.2
Eligibility
6.2.1
To be eligible for this grant
the following must be in place:
·
Any disabled resident seeking
financial assistance with the cost of adaptations to their home
must be assessed by an Occupational Therapist (OT) working on
behalf of, or approved by Devon County Council.
·
Where additional works are
required to install the stair lift or provide accessible washing
facilities these will be covered as part of this grant.
·
Where an applicant requires
multiple adaptions, the stair lift (or other eligible lift) will be
provided through this grant and the other adaptions through the DFG
or accessible homes grant where the applicant is
eligible.
6.3
Conditions
6.3.1
The applicant must have
permission from the owner of the property for the work to be
carried out. The council will require an owner’s certificate
if the property is rented.
6.3.2
The applicant intends to live
in the property as their
only or main residence for the period of 5 years or for a shorter
period as health or other relevant circumstances permit.
6.3.3
The final approved sum will be
based on competitive contracting through the council’s
procurement system, or other process.
6.3.4
Only the works agreed by the
council will be will be covered by the grant.
6.3.5
The works must be completed by
the contractor stated on the approval document, unless otherwise agreed with the
council.
6.3.6
No grant works should proceed
until the grant application has been processed and all relevant
planning, Building Regulation or landlord approval has been
obtained.
6.3.7
Unforeseen and additional costs
will only be paid for where they are necessary to complete the
adaptation and must be agreed by the council before they are
undertaken.
6.3.8
Applicants who are successful
in their application for assistance will be required to maintain
the equipment and any associated works and have it regularly
serviced at their cost.
6.3.9
The contract for the works is
the responsibility of the applicant.
6.3.10
In all but the most exceptional
cases, the council will seek to pay any approved grant funds
directly to contractors on satisfactory completion of
works.
6.3.11
No grant will be paid until a
satisfactory invoice has been received and the works have been
carried out to the satisfaction of the applicant and
Council.
6.3.12
In addition to any land charge
placed on the property under other sections of this policy, where
the grant is in excess of £5,000 a local land charge will be
placed on the property for the amount over £5,000 up to a
maximum of £10,000. This charge will remain on the property
for a period of 10 years.
7
Accessible Homes Grant – Bathroom Adaptation
Grant
7.1.1
This grant provides level
access showers, automatic wash-dry WCs and other bathroom
adaptations without a means test for the applicant.
7.2
Eligibility
7.2.1
To be eligible for this grant
the following must be in place:
·
Any disabled resident seeking
financial assistance with the cost of adaptations to their home
must be assessed by an Occupational Therapist (OT) working on
behalf of, or approved by Devon County Council.
·
Where additional works are
required to install the stair lift or provide accessible washing
facilities these will be covered as part of this grant.
·
Where an applicant requires
multiple adaptions, the bathroom adaptations will be provided
through this grant and the other adaptions through the DFG or
accessible homes grant where the applicant is eligible.
7.3
Conditions
7.3.1
The applicant must have
permission from the owner of the property for the work to be
carried out. The council will require an owner’s certificate
if the property is rented.
7.3.2
The applicant intends to live
in the property as their
only or main residence for the period of 5 years or for a shorter
period as health or other relevant circumstances permit.
7.3.3
The final approved sum will be
based on competitive contracting through the council’s
procurement system, or other process.
7.3.4
Only the works agreed by the
council will be will be covered by the grant.
7.3.5
The works must be completed by
the contractor stated on the approval document, unless otherwise agreed with the
council.
7.3.6
No grant works should proceed
until the grant application has been processed and all relevant
planning, Building Regulation or landlord approval has been
obtained.
7.3.7
Unforeseen and additional costs
will only be paid for where they are necessary to complete the
adaptation and must be agreed by the council before they are
undertaken.
7.3.8
Applicants who are successful
in their application for assistance will be required to maintain
the equipment and any associated works and have it appropriately
serviced at their cost.
7.3.9
The contract for the works is
the responsibility of the applicant.
7.3.10
In all but the most exceptional
cases, the council will seek to pay any approved grant funds
directly to contractors on satisfactory completion of
works.
7.3.11
No grant will be paid until a
satisfactory invoice has been received and the works have been
carried out to the satisfaction of the applicant and
Council.
7.3.12
In addition to any land charge
placed on the property under other sections of this policy, where
the grant is in excess of £5,000 a local land charge will be
placed on the property for the amount over £5,000 up to a
maximum of £10,000. This charge will remain on the property
for a period of 10 years.
8
Accessible Home Grants: Moving Application
8.1
Background
8.1.1
This grant may be available to
assist a disabled person to move to more suitable accommodation
subject to available funding.
8.2
Eligibility
8.2.1
An applicant will be eligible
for this grant
·
Where the Occupational
Therapist and the Council consider re-housing to be more
appropriate than adapting the existing accommodation.
·
Where the landlord has refused
permission for any adaptation works to be carried out and therefore
it is no longer feasible for the occupier to remain in the
property.
·
Where it is possible to carry
out works at the existing property the total cost incurred in the
eligible ‘moving on’ expenses and any estimated
eligible adaptation costs at the ‘new’ property should
not be greater than the cost of adapting the applicant’s
current home.
·
Where the ‘new’
property, in the opinion of the Council, provides a long term,
sustainable home for the person for whose benefit the works are
required.
·
Adaptations at the
‘new’ property will be subject to the Statement of
Needs and a new DFG application. Adaptations may exceed the
mandatory DFG grant and any top-up assistance available, so this
should be considered by the applicant prior to moving.
·
If the property is within a
neighbouring authority covered by this policy then the new
authority will need to ensure the new property is suitable. This
should also be agreed with the Occupational Therapist. The
applicant must ensure that the relevant council’s officers
and Occupational Therapist have been consulted.
8.2.2
In determining the
‘reasonable expenses’ regard shall be given to the
following criteria:
·
The cost of the eligible works
at the applicant’s existing property are not deemed
reasonable, or;
·
The eligible works at the
applicant’s existing home are not technically feasible,
or;
·
The adaptation of the
applicant’s existing property does not provide a sustainable,
long term solution for their housing needs, or;
·
The landlord of the property
refuses to give permission for the necessary works to be carried
out.
8.3
Eligible Expenses – owner occupier
8.3.1
Expenses that can attract a
grant under this section may include the cost of:
·
Any arrangement fee charged by
a lender to cover the formation of a mortgage.
·
Conveyancing fees.
·
Land Registry Fee
·
Local Authority
Searches
·
Stamp Duty
·
Valuation, Homebuyers or Full
Structural Survey
·
Professional or other removal
costs
·
Estate Agent
Commission.
8.3.2
The maximum grant payable for
eligible expenses under this heading for an owner occupier is
£10,000.
8.4
Eligible expenses – tenant
8.4.1
For a tenant the expenses that
can attract a grant under this section may include the cost
of:
·
Letting agent fees
·
Rent deposit
·
Professional or other removal
fees
8.4.2
The maximum grant payable for
eligible expenses under this heading for a tenant is
£5,000.
8.5
Conditions
8.5.1
Grant assistance is only
payable to an owner occupier upon the successful completion of the
purchase of the ‘new’ property and the disabled person
then occupying that property as their only and main
residence.
8.5.2
When moving to rented
accommodation the applicant must obtain permission from the
landlord for any adaptations to be carried out before the grant
will be paid.
8.5.3
To qualify for this grant the
applicant must have been resident in the existing property for at
least 2 years prior to making an application to move.
8.5.4
The applicant must intend to
live in the new property as their only or main residence for a
period of 5 years (or
such shorter period as the person’s health or other relevant
circumstances permit).
8.5.5
For owner occupiers a local
land charge will be placed against the property for a period of 5
years for the total amount of grant awarded.
8.5.6
9
Healthy Homes Grants
9.1
Background
9.1.1
The Healthy Homes grant is a
flexible grant to provide urgent/essential repairs to the home to
ensure the health, safety and welfare of the
occupier(s).
9.1.2
This includes assisting an
occupier with infestations, accumulations (hoarding) and personal
circumstances (for example dementia) where the condition of the
dwelling will lead to a delayed transfer of care (hospital
discharge) or potential avoidable hospital admission.
9.2
Eligibility
9.2.1
To qualify for this grant the
applicant must either:
a.
have been declined by Lendology
CIC for a Home Improvement Loan
b.
be in receipt of one of the
following benefits:
·
Housing Benefit
·
Disability Living
Allowance
·
Personal Independent Payment
with the daily living component
·
Attendance Allowance
·
Pension Credit
·
Income Support
·
Council tax benefit (not the
single person discount)
·
Universal Credit
(Universal Credit replaces the following means tested
benefits: Housing Benefit, Income Related Employment Support
Allowance, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Child Tax Credit,
Working Tax Credit and Income Support)
c.
otherwise be in financial
hardship following as assessment by:
·
Lendology CIC
·
The council’s Housing
Options or other relevant team
·
Citizens Advice, or
·
Other third party commissioned
by the council to work in a community support role.
9.2.2
A grant can be awarded in
addition to a loan from Lendology CIC if the amount of loan
available is not enough to cover the cost of addressing the
eligible works.
9.2.3
Healthy Homes Grant can be used
to fund repairs to disabled adaptations where the equipment or
other works are out of warranty or guarantee.
9.2.4
This grant can be used to fund
temporary measures or items that can be removed to allow the
occupier to return home as part of end of life care. Works will be
funded by DFG or Accessible Homes in the first instance, if
eligible.
9.2.5
Subject to available funds,
non-means tested grants will be available, on the recommendation of
the MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) to provide a
secure sanctuary room within an applicant’s property where
there is a demonstrable risk that the householder is at risk of
violence from a partner/former partner and that providing a
sanctuary room is the most satisfactory course of action. In such
cases, each grant will be assessed on its own merit and will fund
the structural work to a property as recommended by the police up
to a maximum of £20,000.
9.3
Conditions
9.3.1
Households are able to apply
for a ‘Healthy Homes grant’ on multiple occasions;
except where stated otherwise, the maximum grant available is
£10,000 in any two year period.
9.3.2
Unless stated otherwise, for
owner occupiers a local land charge will be placed against the
property for a period of 5 years. For the total amount of the
grant.
9.3.3
A local land charge will not be
placed against the property if the purpose of the grant is to
repair disabled adaptations already subject to a charge. This will
apply to the cost of those repairs only, if the grant is being used
for multiple reasons.
9.3.4
A local land charge will not be
placed on the property if the purpose of the grant is to provide
equipment or works to help with end of life care.
9.3.5
For tenants the grant will only
be available where the landlord is not responsible for the works
required. As such, the grant will be limited to providing
assistance with infestations and accumulations (hoarding) where the
condition of the dwelling will lead to a delayed transfer of care
(hospital discharge) or potential avoidable hospital admission,
where the landlord is not responsible for the works.
9.3.6
An applicant can apply for a
loan for any substantial work beyond removing the immediate health
and safety risk.
10
Home
Improvement Loans
10.1
Background
10.1.1
Lendology CIC (formerly known
as Wessex Resolutions Community Interest Company (WRCIC)) is a
not-for-profit company contracted by the council to deliver loans
to residents in the district.
10.1.2
Lendology CIC administer loans
within the requirements of this policy. Home Improvement Loans are
flexible and can be used for the following purposes:
·
Home repairs and improvements
to bring the dwelling up to the Decent Homes Standard.
·
Adaptation works where grant is
not available
·
To cover a applicant
contribution to a grant
·
To cover the cost of the work
over the Disabled Facilities Grant and/or Accessible Homes Grant
maximum.
·
To bring empty homes back into
use
·
For renewable energy
enhancements and energy efficiency improvements
·
For landlords to carry out
repairs or improvements to rented accommodation to address
either:
a.
Assessed failures of the Decent
Homes Standard, or;
b.
Works to meet requirements of
the Management Regulations, or;
c.
Works to meet requirements of
other regulations placing duties on managers of rented
accommodation
10.2
Eligibility
10.2.1
This will vary and is based on
the individual circumstances of each applicant. Loan advisors from
Lendology CIC will carry out an assessment and provide independent
advice on ethical and responsible lending and the most appropriate
product to suit the needs of the applicant.
10.3
Conditions
10.3.1
Conditions may vary depending
on the loan product selected and the individual circumstances of
each applicant.
10.3.2
Loans are subject to status.
Lendology may insist on loans being protected at the Land Registry
by a Title Restriction. Missing payments could affect your credit
rating and ability to obtain credit in the future.
11
Warm
Up Grants
11.1
Background
11.1.1
These grants, up to a maximum
£3,000 per property, provide top up funding for energy
efficiency measures where energy providers are part funding energy
efficiency measures under their Energy Company Obligation (ECO) or
other energy efficiency funding.
11.1.2
Warm Up funding can also be
used in conjunction with Healthy Homes Grants (based on eligibility
for Healthy Homes), where the hazard(s) being rectified require
energy efficiency works or upgrading of heating/hot water
provision.
11.1.3
Works will generally
include:
·
Mains gas boiler
replacement
·
Insulation measures (e.g. loft,
cavity wall, solid wall, flat roof & room in roof)
·
Non-gas boiler
replacements
·
Replacement storage
heaters
·
Renewable installations (e.g.
solar panels and air-source heat pumps)
·
Energy efficiency
works
11.2
Eligibility
11.2.1
Applicants must have been
identified either through the council’s Energy Company
Obligation flexible eligibility Statement of Intent which can be
found on the council’s website, or by an assessment of an
officer of the council under the Healthy Homes policy.
11.2.2
To qualify for the top-up a
survey must be carried out by the energy provider, an officer of
the council, a local installer, or their agent and qualifying works
identified. Provisions will be in place to ensure value for
money.
11.2.3
For owner occupiers a maximum
of up to £3,000 is available.
11.2.4
If more than £3,000 is
needed then the applicant should apply for a Lendology CIC loan
(see section 10) subject to availability and eligibility
11.3
Conditions
11.3.1
Once a ‘Warm up
grant’ has been awarded to a household, no further
‘Warm up grant’ will be available for the same
household in the same property for a period of 4 years.
11.3.2
The contract for the works is
the responsibility of the applicant.
11.3.3
In all but the most exceptional
cases, the council will seek to pay any approved grant funds
directly to contractors on satisfactory completion of
works.
11.3.4
No grant will be paid until a
satisfactory invoice has been received and the works have been
carried out to the satisfaction of the applicant and
Council.
12
Miscellaneous
12.1
Exceptions to this policy
12.1.1
The council accept that
applications may be received for adaptations or works not covered
by the circumstances listed above or outside the eligibility
criteria listed. In all cases, these will need to be formally
determined.
12.1.2
Any such application will be
assessment by the Private Sector Housing Lead or
equivalent.
12.1.3
Such applications will be
determined with reference to relevant priorities as laid out in
relevant the council Policies.
12.1.4
Disabled Facilities Grants that
meet the following criteria will not be subject to a test of
financial resources:
·
Grants for community equipment
(aids and minor adaptations) if the cost of the adaptation is
£1,000 or less[v].
12.2
Appeals and complaints
12.2.1
Where the applicant has a
complaint about the manner in which the council is applying this
policy, then they should follow the Council’s formal
complaints process.
12.2.2
Where the complaint is in
respect of works, the complaint should be made to the contractor in
the first instance, if this does not resolve the problem then the
council should be contacted for advice.
12.2.3
13
Appendix A: Eligible works
13.1
Disabled Facilities Grant and Accessible Homes
Grant
13.1.1
An assessment by an agreed
Occupational Therapist must be carried out. The Occupational
Therapist will then recommend the type of adaptation
required.
13.1.2
Minor works are assessed by the
Occupational Therapist and may be dealt with outside of the grant
process.
13.1.3
In order to decide on an
eligible scheme there is a two stage process:
a.
The Occupational Therapist
assesses what is ‘necessary and appropriate’ to meet
the needs of the disabled occupant.
b.
The Environmental Health and
Community Safety service assess what measures are reasonable and
practicable to meet the identified needs in practice.
13.1.4
During both of the stages of
this process the Occupational Therapist and Environmental Health
and Community Safety service will work closely with the applicant
to ensure, as far as possible, that their input is taken into
account.
13.2
Purposes for which a grant must or may be
given
13.2.1
The following (11.2.3 –
11.2.14) are the purposes for which a mandatory Disabled Facilities
Grant are available, as contained in legislation.
13.2.2
Each adaptation criteria is
provided with an example. The examples are intended to give a brief
idea of the type of work available. In each case, the eligible
works will be decided through the process laid out in 12.1,
above.
13.2.3
Facilitating access by the
disabled occupant to and from the dwelling, or the building in
which the dwelling or, as the case may be, flat is
situated;
·
For example, ramping and/or
handrails to the main external door.
13.2.4
Making the dwelling safe for
the disabled occupant and other persons residing with
them;
·
For example, upgrading of
the electrical installation, where the current installation is
considered unsafe for the disabled occupant.
13.2.5
Facilitating access by the
disabled occupant to a room used or usable as the principal family
room;
·
For example, alterations to
facilitate wheelchair access to a living room.
13.2.6
Facilitating access by the
disabled occupant to, or providing for the disabled occupant, a
room used or usable for sleeping;
·
For example, alterations to
facilitate wheelchair access to a bedroom.
13.2.7
Facilitating access by the
disabled occupant to, or providing for the disabled occupant, a
room in which there is a lavatory, or facilitating the use by the
disabled occupant of such a facility;
·
For example, installation of
a stairlift to facilitate access to a first floor
WC.
13.2.8
Facilitating access by the
disabled occupant to, or providing for the disabled occupant, a
room in which there is a bath or shower (or both), or facilitating
the use by the disabled occupant of such a facility;
·
For example, installation of a
level-access shower.
13.2.9
Facilitating access by the
disabled occupant to, or providing for the disabled occupant, a
room in which there is a wash hand basin, or facilitating the use
by the disabled occupant of such a facility;
·
For example, provision of an
accessible wash hand basin, including any alterations necessary to
facilitate access.
13.2.10
Facilitating the preparation
and cooking of food by the disabled occupant;
·
For example, installing
low-level food preparation areas.
13.2.11
Improving any heating system in
the dwelling to meet the needs of the disabled occupant or, if
there is no existing heating system there or any such system is
unsuitable for use by the disabled occupant, providing a heating
system suitable to meet his needs;
·
For example,
upgrading/replacing of boilers/radiators where the property has
been extended as part of a wider adaptation.
13.2.12
Facilitating the use by the
disabled occupant of a source of power, light or heat by altering
the position of one or more means of access to or control of that
source or by providing additional means of control;
·
For example, alterations to
the height and/or position of light switches and power points to
make them accessible to the disabled person.
13.2.13
Facilitating access and
movement by the disabled occupant around the dwelling in
order to enable them to care for a person who is normally resident
there and is in need of such care;
·
For example, widening of
doorways.
13.2.14
Facilitating access to and from
a garden by a disabled occupant; or making access to a garden safe
for a disabled occupant;
·
For example, providing
access to an area of the garden suitable for the disabled
occupant.
13.2.15
14
Notes:
