Housing Adaptations and Repairs
What is Private Sector Renewal?
With as many as 9000 privately owned homes across the County Borough requiring repairs and improvements to bring them up to modern living standards, the Council is responsible for administering a range of Welsh Assembly Government grants that allow homeowners to carry out this work subject to adequate resources being available.
The Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy forms the basis for the distribution of these grants. The policy targets elderly and vulnerable residents while focusing on disadvantaged areas and the policy makes grants for mandatory disabled facilities its main priority.
What grants are available?
Depending on available finance, the following grants are available from Bridgend County Borough Council and are listed in order of priority rating:
Disabled Facilities Grant [DFGs]
This is a mandatory grant to help towards the cost of home adaptations to enable a disabled person to continue to live independently.
Discretionary Disabled Facilities Lifetime Grant
Where the cost of works exceeds £36,000 at approval, a discretionary grant of up to £4,000 may be available when it can be evidenced that not carrying out the works would lead to certain and permanent loss of independence, and an immediate need for social care support disproportionate to the cost of the adaptations required. This lifetime grant is recoverable upon the disposal of the property.
Low Cost Adaptations Grant
These are available to applicants who qualify for a DFG, where the cost of the works is £5,000 or under. This currently applies to stairlifts, but may be extended to include other minor works. This is currently administered in part by Bridgend Care and Repair.
Adapted Home Relocation Grant
This replaces the Bridgend Relocation Grant for persons eligible for a DFG where the costs of works are estimated at £36,000 or above (including fees and contingencies) at survey and/or application. The grant will assist with the purchase of more appropriate or already adapted accommodation, including estate agent fees, conveyance costs, removal expenses, and minor adaptation works to the new property. Assistance is available up to a maximum of £36,000. AHRG will also be available to relocate an existing RSL or V2C tenant in order to vacate an already adapted property.
Empty Homes Grant
This discretionary grant replaces the Problem Empty Property Grant, and aims to increase the supply of affordable rented accommodation and tackle empty properties. The grant will be used to bring empty properties up to reasonable repair standards, in return for making the property available for nomination by the Council or their appointed agent for a period of 3 years, at an affordable rent. The Empty Homes Grant is necessary due to expected constraints on the Social Housing Grant Programme in future years. Repayment conditions will apply.
Bridgend Group Repair Scheme
This operates only in the Housing Renewal Area. Eligible works include improvements to the external envelope and environmental improvements to enhance streets and open spaces, garden and boundary walls, and the provision and/or improvement of community facilities.
Emergency Repair Lifetime Grant
This is a discretionary grant targeting older, vulnerable residents, and will fund works to remedy a serious hazard affecting health and safety, up to a maximum of £2,500. This Lifetime Grant will be recoverable upon the disposal of the property.
Comfort Safety and Security
Minor repair work for owner occupiers who are Bridgend Care and Repair Clients (older and disabled persons) in receipt of a means tested benefit, to a maximum of £1,000 in any 5 year period, with awards made under previous assistance being taken into account.
All of the above are subject to eligibility criteria. Call the Housing Renewal section on 01656 643442 for further details.
- Last Updated: 15/11/2010
- Rate this page
- Back to top
