Getting Help to Adapt Your Home
The person you are caring for may have special needs which mean either their home needs to be adapted or your home needs to be adapted if they live with you. The home may also need a variety of repairs or improvements (e.g. damp treatment, roof replacement).
If you don’t have the money to do this work, you may be able to get a grant to help with the cost of repairing, improving or adapting the home. In some cases, this can be worth thousands of pounds.
Depending on whether you live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, there are different arrangements for such grants.
If you don’t qualify for a grant or the grant doesn’t cover the full costs of the work, there may be other ways of raising the money for repairs and adaptations.
How to apply for a grant if you live in England or Wales
There are three types of grant available in England and Wales if you need help with the cost of repairing, improving or adapting a home:
- Renovation grants – for large-scale repairs, improvements and adaptations to the home
- Disabled facilities grants – to help disabled people manage more independently at home
- Home repair assistance - available for small but essential repairs, improvements or adaptations
If you don’t qualify for a grant or the grant doesn’t cover the full costs of the work, there may be other ways of raising the money for repairs and adaptations.
Renovation grants
You may be able to get a renovation grant for large-scale repairs, improvements and adaptations to your home.
Who can get a renovation grant?
To get a renovation grant, you must:
- Own and live in your home or be a tenant of a privately-owned property - the property must be at least ten years old when the application is made.
- Have occupied the property for at least three years before you apply for the grant, unless:
What can you get a renovation grant for?
You may receive a grant for a variety of reasons, including:
-
Bringing a property up to the legal standard for someone to live in it. This means making sure the home:
- is structurally stable
- is free from serious disrepair
- is free from dampness that may damage a person’s health
- has adequate facilities for light, heat and ventilation
- has satisfactory facilities for cooking and preparing food
- has a suitably-located toilet and washing facilities for exclusive use of the people in the home
- has an effective drainage system.
- Doing other things to improve your property such as providing a fire escape or insulating your loft, or even converting it so that it can be used as a home.
How does the local council decide whether you get a grant and how much money you will receive?
House Renovation grants are discretionary and each local council has different priorities about who it awards grants to (some local authorities do not give House Renovation grants at all) – this information should be available from your local council’s housing department.
The council decides on how much money is awarded by looking at:
- The applicant’s salary and the amount of savings they have
- The salary and the amount of savings of anyone else who intends to live in the property and is entitled to apply for the grant.
If the application is made on behalf of a child under 18 years old, the amount of money provided by the local council depends on the income and savings of the parent.
Legally, there is no maximum limit on the amount of money that can be given for each project, although Local Authorities can limit the amount they will pay.
What conditions are set by the local council if you get a grant?
Work must not start until the grant has been approved. Once it has been approved, most local councils will expect the work to be carried out within 12 months. The work will need to be done by one of the contractors who were asked to supply estimates for the work during the application process.
If you sell your property within five years of receiving the grant it may have to be repaid - however, grants do not normally have to be repaid if the person who received the grant has since died.
How do you apply for a renovations grant?
Contact either your local council’s housing department or environmental health department and ask for a renovations grant application form.
When you fill in this form, you will need to include information about the property and the work that you want to be done. If you own the home, you will also be asked to fill in a certificate saying you or a member of the family intends to live in the property for the next five years. If you are a tenant, you and your landlord will have to complete similar certificates. These certificates will be provided at the same time as you receive your application form.
A Home Improvement Agency can give you specific help and advice about applying for a grant, and supervise the work on your behalf. To find out if there is a Home Improvement Agency in your area, contact:
Foundations
Bleaklow House
Howood Town Road
Glossop
SK13 8HT
Tel: 01457 891909
How to make a complaint
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions that are made, you can complain.
Disabled facilities grants
Disabled facilities grants are given to help disabled people manage more independently at home.
Who can get a disabled facilities grant?
You may be able to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant if you or someone you live with is disabled. To get a disabled facilities grant you must be one of the following:
- An owner-occupier - that means you own and live in your home
- A private tenant – that means you rent the home you live in
- A private landlord of disabled tenant(s) – that means you own a property that is rented to people with a disability
- A council tenant – that means you rent your home from the council
- A housing association tenant – that means you rent your home from a housing authority.
The council will need to visit the property to see if it is suitable for the proposed work. They will also need to be satisfied that the proposed work is needed by the disabled person and so will consult with the local social services department about this. The local social services department will arrange for someone to visit and assess the needs of the person applying for the grant.
What can you get a disabled facilities grant for?
In some cases, the council must provide funding (this is called a ‘mandatory grant’) and in others they can decide whether it is awarded or not (this is called ‘discretionary’). In order for the work to be paid for with a Disabled Facilities grant, an Occupational Therapist from your local Social Services must recommend that the work is necessary for the disabled person to live in the property comfortably.
You can get a ‘mandatory’ disabled facilities grant for:
- Improving access in and out of the property
- Making the property safe for the disabled person and others who live there
- Improving access to a room used or usable as the main family room
- Improving facilities for the disabled person to prepare or cook food
- Improving access to or providing a room used or usable for sleeping in
- Improving access to or providing a bathroom or toilet
- Improving access and movement around the home so the disabled person can care for someone who needs their care (e.g. a child) and also lives there
- Improving use of a source of power, light or heat – for example if the disabled person has problems with their sight, or if they have an illness which means they must stay warm
The maximum amount of money you can receive for a mandatory grant is £20,000 in England and £24,000 in Wales. If the work costs more than the maximum figure, the council may pay the extra as a ‘discretionary’ disabled facilities grant (see below).
Please note that there may be a delay in awarding a grant – this can be up to 12 months from when you apply.
‘Discretionary’ disabled facilities grants are given to make the property more suitable for a disabled person to live or work in. They can also be awarded to top up a mandatory grant. Different local councils will have different priorities for who they will award grants to – your local housing department should be able to tell you more about this.
How does the local council decide how much money you will receive?
The council decides on how much money you will receive by looking at the income and savings of the disabled person (and those of their partner if they have one) – this is called means testing. If the disabled person is less than 18 years old, the means test applies to the parents.
What conditions are set by the local council if you get a grant?
Work on the house must not start on before the grant has been awarded. If an application for a disabled facilities grant is approved but the situation changes before the work is finished (e.g. the disabled person moves to other accommodation, dies or the work becomes unnecessary or inappropriate), the council will need to re-assess whether the grant should continue to be paid.
How do you apply for a disabled facilities grant?
Contact either your local council’s housing department or environmental health department and ask for a disabled facilities grant application form. You should also contact your local Social Services and ask for an Occupational Therapist assessment at the same time. Occupational Therapy departments often have waiting lists, so do this as soon as possible. A disabled facilities grant cannot be awarded unless an Occupational Therapist has recommended the work for the disabled person.
When you fill in this form, you will need to include information about the property and the work that you want to be done. If you own the home, you will also be asked to fill in a certificate saying the disabled person intends to live in the property for the next five years, providing their health permits. If you are a tenant, you and your landlord will have to complete similar certificates. These certificates will be provided at the same time as you receive your application form.
A Home Improvement Agency can give you specific help and advice about applying for a grant, and supervise the work on your behalf. To find out if there is a Home Improvement Agency in your area, contact:
Foundations
Bleaklow House
Howood Town Road
Glossop
SK13 8HT
Tel: 01457 891909
How to make a complaint
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions they have made, you can complain.
Home Repair Assistance
Home repair assistance is a discretionary grant which may be available for small but essential repairs, improvements or adaptations. Your Local Authority may provide help by giving cash and/or materials. You will find that different councils have different priorities for awarding grants.
Who can get home repair assistance?
To get home repair assistance, you must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Live in the property to be repaired (and it must be your only or main home), or apply on behalf of a person who is aged 60 or over, or disabled or infirm
- Own and live in the home to be repaired, or rent the home or have a right of exclusive occupation, (which means that your landlord does not live with you and you are not on a short term tenancy) of the property for at least five years
- Have a legal power or duty to carry out the building works
- Be getting at least one of the following benefits:
-
- Income Support
- Council Tax Benefit
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disabled Persons Tax credit.
Even if you do not meet all of the above conditions, you can still apply for home repair assistance if you are aged 60 or over, or disabled or infirm, or if you care for someone who is aged 60 or over, or disabled or infirm and they live in the property.
If you do not own the property or are not a tenant but have right of exclusive occupation of the property, you must have lived in it for at least three years before you apply for home repair assistance, unless:
- The work is for fire precautions
- The work is to help someone who is aged 60 or over, or infirm or disabled to be cared for
- The property is in a renewal area.
If you live in a mobile home or houseboat, you may still be able to get home repair assistance.
What can you get home repair assistance for?
There is no limit on the type of repairs, improvements or adaptations that can be funded by home repair assistance, although you will not be able to get a grant for work which is purely cosmetic (such as decorating).
Please note that the work must not start before the grant has been awarded.
How does the local council decide whether you receive assistance and how much money you will receive?
Different local councils have different priorities for who can get a grant, but each council should publish its priorities. Contact your local council’s housing department or environmental health for more information.
You may be able to receive a maximum of £2,000 per grant and up to £4,000 in any three-year period.
How do you apply for home repair assistance?
Contact either your local council’s housing department or environmental health department and ask for a home repair assistance application form.
When you fill in this form, you will need to include information about the property and the work that you want to be done.
A Home Improvement Agency can give you specific help and advice about applying for a grant, and supervise the work on your behalf. To find out if there is a Home Improvement Agency in your area, contact:
Foundations
Bleaklow House
Howood Town Road
Glossop
SK13 8HT
Tel: 01457 891909
How to make a complaint
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions they have made, you can complain.
How to apply for a grant if you live in Northern Ireland
There are three types of grant available in Northern Ireland if you need help with the cost of repairing, improving or adapting a home:
- Renovation grants – given to improve ‘sub-standard’ homes
- Disabled facilities grants – given to help make the home of a disabled person more suitable for their needs
- Minor works assistance – given to carry out small-scale repairs, improvements and adaptations to a property
If you don’t qualify for a grant or the grant doesn’t cover the full costs of the work, there may be other ways of raising the money for repairs and adaptations.
Renovation grants
Renovation grants are given by the Housing Executive to improve ‘sub-standard’ homes. Depending on the need, a variety of work may be paid for – this includes damp treatment, roof replacement and the replacement of chimneys, gutters and plasterwork.
Who can get a renovations grant?
You can apply for a grant if you own or intend to buy a house or flat, whether alone or jointly with others. You can also apply if you rent the house and are responsible for repairing the house.
A renovation grant may be given if the home is:
- At least ten years old
- Not included in a redevelopment or clearance area and will not be included in one within the next 12 months
- Not included as part of a Group Repair scheme and will not be part of one within the next 12 months.
What can you get a renovations grant for?
In some cases, the Housing Executive must provide funding (this is called a ‘mandatory grant’) and in others they can decide whether it is awarded or not (this is called ‘discretionary’).
A ‘mandatory’ grant may be awarded if the Executive thinks the home is ‘unfit for human habitation’ and there are serious problems (e.g. no inside toilet) with the property.
A ‘discretionary’ grant may be awarded if the Executive thinks the home is ‘fit for human habitation’ but improvements or repairs of a less urgent nature are needed to bring it up to a very high standard or, for example, to convert a building into housing units.
How does the Housing Executive decide how much money you will receive?
The Executive will assess the income of owners/tenants who live in the property when deciding how much they have to pay for any work – this process is called means testing. The Executive will then make up the difference between the cost of the approved works and the amount you can pay towards it.
How long does it take to process an application?
The Executive will let you know if your application has been approved or not within six months.
When will the grant be paid?
The grant will normally be paid once the work has been completed – the Executive will need a receipt from the contractor before they pay the grant. You can, however, apply for the payments to be made in up to four instalments – the Grants Manager then decides whether to allow instalments to be paid.
What conditions are set by the Housing Executive if you get a grant?
Anyone who gets a renovation grant must:
- Use a contractor who is a member of a Registered Warranted Builders Scheme
- Agree to live in the home as their only or main residence for one year, or in the case of a landlord to make the house available for letting for five years
- Not start work before the Executive has given its approval.
How do you apply for a renovations grant?
Ask your local Grants Office for a Preliminary Enquiry Form, which you should complete and return to the Grants Office.
Where do you get advice on the Grants Scheme?
If you need more advice about the Grants scheme, contact your local Grants Office – they will be pleased to answer your questions and provide information about organisations that can help people with special needs or older applicants who may have difficulty in dealing with solicitors, contractors, architects, etc.
How to make a complaint
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions they have made, you can complain.
Disabled facilities grants
Disabled facilities grants are given to people who need to make the home of a disabled person more suitable for their needs. The proposed work needs to be recommended by a local occupational therapist.
Who can get a disabled facilities grant?
If you own and live in a house, or are a landlord or rent a house (excluding Housing Executive tenants) and are disabled or have a person with a disability living with you, you can apply for a disability facilities grant.
The Housing Executive will need to be satisfied that the work is both necessary and appropriate for the needs of the person with a disability – the age and condition of the property will also be considered.
What can you get a disability facilities grant for?
In some cases, the Housing Executive must provide funding (this is called a ‘mandatory grant’) and in others they can decide whether it is awarded or not (this is called ‘discretionary’).
A ‘mandatory’ grant will be awarded for work recommended by a local occupational therapist. The type of work may include:
- Making access to the bathroom, living room or bedroom easier
- Providing bathroom facilities
- Making the preparation and cooking of food easier (e.g. by enlarging the kitchen or providing low-level units)
- Adapting lighting or heating controls
- Improving the heating system.
A discretionary grant may be used to fund work which is necessary which the mandatory grant does not cover.
How does the Housing Executive decide how much money you will receive?
The Executive will assess the income and savings of the disabled person and their partner if they have one when deciding how much they have to pay for any work – this process is called means testing. The Executive will then make up the difference between the cost of the approved works and the amount the disabled person can pay towards it.
How do you apply for a disabled facilities grant?
Ask your local Grants Office for a Preliminary Enquiry Form, which you should complete and return to the Grants Office.
Where do you get advice on the Grants Scheme?
If you need more advice about the Grants scheme, contact your local Grants Office - they will be pleased to answer your questions and provide information about organisations that can help people with special needs or older applicants who may have difficulty in dealing with solicitors, contractors, architects, etc.
How to make a complaint
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions they have made, you can complain.
Minor works assistance
Minor works assistance is given by the Housing Executive to carry out small-scale repairs, improvements and adaptations to a property that makes the person living there more comfortable.
Who can get minor works assistance?
If you live in your own house, or rent a house (excluding Housing Executive tenants) and receive at least one of the following benefits, you can apply:
- Income Support
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
What can you get minor works assistance for?
There are five different types of assistance that may be provided:
‘Staying put’: this assistance is available to owners and tenants aged 60 years or over who are on one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
The assistance provided may include repairs to windows, doors, gutters and chimneys, and minor adaptations such as the inclusion of handrails, ramps or an additional bath, toilet or wash-basin. The property must be in a generally good condition.
‘Elderly resident adaptation’: this is available for minor alterations to the home of someone who has an elderly relative or friend living with them permanently. The applicant must be on one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
The assistance provided may include adding or repairing handrails, ramps, wash-basins or showers.
‘Patch and mend’: this is available for someone whose home is in or soon will be in a redevelopment or clearance area. It is designed to make the home as comfortable as possible until the person is re-homed. The applicant must be on one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
‘Disabled adaptations grant’: this is available for people who are on one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
Any work needs to be recommended by an occupational therapist – the Housing Executive can contact an occupational therapist on your behalf if you think you should get this grant. The assistance provided includes improving access around the house to make preparation and cooking of food easier, and improving the use of a source of heating or lighting, for example if the disabled person has sight problems or needs to be kept warm.
‘Lead pipes’: people who receive an income-related benefit (e.g. Income Support, Working Families Tax Credit, etc.) who have a lead water supply pipe from the mains may be awarded a grant to replace the lead.
How does the Housing Executive decide how much money you will receive?
The maximum amount given is usually £1,080 at any one time. A maximum of £3,240 can be awarded over a three-year period.
How long does it take to process an application?
The Executive normally hopes to give the go-ahead for work within three months of the application.
How do you apply for minor works assistance?
Ask your local Grants Office for a Preliminary Enquiry Form, which you should complete and return to the Grants Office.
Where do you get advice on the Grants Scheme?
If you need more advice about the Grants scheme, contact your local Grants Office – they will be pleased to answer your questions and provide information about organisations that can help people with special needs or older applicants who may have difficulty in dealing with solicitors, contractors, architects, etc.
A Home Improvement agency may also be able to help you to apply for a grant and help to supervise the work. To find out if there is a Home Improvement Agency in your area contact:
Fold Housing Association
3 Redburn Square
Holywood
BT18 9HT
Tel: 02890 428314
How to make a complaint
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions they have made, you can complain.
Contact details of Grants offices
Belfast:
32-36 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7BA
Tel: 028 9031 7000
Newtownards:
Strangford House
28 Court Street
Newtownards
BT23 7NX
Tel: 028 9182 060
Lisburn:
4-6 Graham Gardens,
Lisburn
BT28 1XE
Tel: 028 9266 5222
Craigavon:
Marlborough House
Central Way
Craigavon
BT64 1AJ
Tel: 028 3834 1188
Newry:
35-45 Boat Street
Newry BT34 2DB
Tel: 01693 67331
Ballymena
Twickenham House
Mount Street
Ballymena
BT43 6BP
Tel: 028 2565 3399
Ballyclare:
141 Mill Road
Ballyclare
BT39 9DZ
Tel: 019603 52849
Londonderry:
Richmond Chambers
The Diamond
Londonderry
BT48 6QP
Tel: 028 7137 2000
Omagh:
McAllister House
Woodside Avenue
Omagh
BT79 7BP
Tel: 028 8224 6111
Fermanagh
Riverview House
Head Street
Enniskillen
BT74 7DA
Tel: 01365 325770
How to apply for a grant if you live in Scotland
There are three types of grant available in Scotland if you need help with the cost of repairing, improving or adapting a home:
- Improvement grants – for large-scale improvements or adaptations to the home
- Repairs grants – for small-scale repairs
- Care and Repair grants - given to help elderly and disabled owner-occupiers stay in their own homes
If you don’t qualify for a grant or the grant doesn’t cover the full costs of the work, there
may be other ways of raising the money for repairs and adaptations.
Improvement grants
Improvement grants are awarded for large-scale improvements or adaptations to the home. They are administered by a local council’s housing department.
Who can get an improvement grant?
You can get an improvement grant only if you own your own home – tenants cannot receive a grant.
How does the local council decide who should receive an improvement grant?
There is no national system for assessing grant applications although some councils have set up their own local systems to ensure grants are awarded to those in greatest need. You will find that different councils have different priorities for awarding grants.
How does the local council decide how much money you will receive?
The standard limit is £12,600 although the local council can approach the Scottish Office if it wants to go over this limit.
In most cases, the local council will only pay for up to 75% of the cost of the renovation work although they can increase this to 90% if they think the person who owns and lives in the house will face financial hardship if he/she has to fund the rest of the work.
How do you apply for an improvement grant?
Contact the local council’s housing department (private sector grants section) for information about how to apply for a renovation grant.
How to make a complaint
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions they have made, you can complain.
Repair grants
Repair grants are awarded for small-scale repairs. Awards are normally given for up to 50% of the cost of a repair (up to a maximum of £2,750).
How do I apply for a repair grant?
Contact the local council’s housing department (private sector grants section) for information about how to apply for a repair grant.
Care and repair grants
Care and repair grants are given to help elderly and disabled owner-occupiers stay in their own homes, for example they can pay for small adaptations.
The income and savings of applicants will be assessed when deciding if they will receive a grant – this is called means-testing.
How do you apply for a care and repair grant?
Contact the local council’s housing department (private sector grants section) for information about how to apply for a Care and Repair grant.
The Scottish Care and Repair office can also give you advice. They can be contacted on:
Care and Repair Scotland
236 Clyde Street
Glasgow
G1 4JH
Tel: 0141 221 9879
Other funding opportunities
If you don’t qualify for a grant or the grant doesn’t cover the full costs of the work, there
are other ways of raising the money for repairs and adaptations:
- Help from the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
- Getting a loan using your home as security
- Getting help through the Social Fund
- Applying for a grant or loan from a charity or benevolent fund
Help from the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
In England and Wales you can get help with insulation, draught proofing and other things that improve energy efficiency through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES).
There are also grants available to home owners and private tenants in Scotland and Northern Ireland although the rules differ slightly. Carers in Scotland should call 0800 072 0150 and carers in Northern Ireland should call 0800 181 667.
Who can get an HEES grant?
You can get an HEES grant if you live in England or Wales, are aged under 60 and one of the following applies to you:
- There is a child under 16 in the house and you receive both Child Benefit and either Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Families Tax Credit or Income-based Job Seekers Allowance.
- You receive Disabled Persons Tax Credit, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (including Constant Attendance Allowance) or War Disablement Pension.
- You are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits which includes a disability premium: Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.
What does the HEES provide grants for?
You can get help with insulation, draught proofing and other things which improve energy efficiency in your home. You can also get help with a partial gas central heating system, and in some areas you can get help with installing security systems.
How does the HEES decide how much money I should get?
The maximum grant that can be awarded is £2000.
How do you apply for an HEES or HEES Plus grant?
To apply for a HEES grant, call 0800 181 667.
If you are applying for an HEES Plus grant you must be aged over 60 and receive either Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Income-based Job Seekers Allowance.
Getting a loan using your home as security
If you own your home, you may be able to get a loan using your home as security. However, please make sure you can afford the repayments before applying for a loan. If you fail to keep up your repayments you could lose your home.
Getting a grant or loan from a charity or benevolent fund
Charities and benevolent organisations offer a range of grants and loans to help pay for things the government doesn’t fund.
Most of the major charities and benevolent organisations are listed in a book called A Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need. Libraries and advice centres usually have a copy.
How to make a complaint if you live in England or Wales
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions made, you can complain to the local council. You should do this in writing.
If you are still not satisfied, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman – choose from one of the following addresses:
London:
21 Queen Anne’s Gate
London
SW1H 9BU
Tel: 020 7915 3210
Coventry
The Oaks No 2
Westwood Way
Westwood Business Park
Coventry
CV4 8JB
Tel: 024 7669 5999
York
Beverley House
17 Shipton Road
York
Y03 6FZ
Tel: 01904 663200
Cardiff
Derwen House
Court Road
Bridgend CF31 1BN
Tel: 01656 661325
How to make a complaint if you live in Northern Ireland
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy with any decisions made, you can complain to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Commissioner for Complaints at:
33 Wellington Place
Belfast BT1 6HN
Telephone: 028 9023 3821
How to make a complaint if you live in Scotland
If you apply for a grant and you’re not happy either with the service you have received or with any decisions they have made, you can complain to the local council. You should do this in writing.
If you are still not satisfied, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman at:
23 Walker Street
Edinburgh EH3 7HX