Private Housing: Financial assistance

What funding is available?

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)

Discretionary Repairs assistance

  • Maximum £20,000 interest free loan
  • Help is available to carry out repairs and essential improvements. Crime prevention measures where appropriate
  • Sometimes necessary additional costs, for example temporary storage, are paid for
  • No loan repayments if you own the property and stick to the conditions; you repay the loan when the property is sold

Discretionary Repairs Assistance is means tested. You may get help if:

  • The property has category one hazards (serious health and safety risks, threat of death or injury for example electric wiring)
  • You have lived in the dwelling as your only or main residence for three years
  • You or other member of your household is classed as vulnerable. Discretionary Repairs assistance may be available where a property is in an ‘Action Area’ and has been vacant for at least twelve months. Discretionary Repairs Assistance may be available where a property is part of an Area Renewal Scheme (in which case the money will not have to be repaid if you keep the property for more than five years)

Energy Efficiency assistance:

Warmer Homes Grants

  • Maximum assistance available £10,000.
  • you may qualify for help to install insulation and heating measures if your property has a low energy rating, you or other member of your household is classed as vulnerable and you have an income of less than £24,000 or are living in fuel poverty
  • Thermal insulation measures installed will help reduce fuel bills and Carbon dioxide emissions 1
  • Improvements and replacement of heating systems and heating control upgrades can also be covered by the grant (subject to energy rating)

More on Affordable warmth

Empty Property assistance

First Time Buyer assistance

  • Financial assistance payable to a maximum £20,000, in the form of an interest free loan
  • No loan repayments required if you own the property and stick to the conditions. However, the original loan amount needs to be repaid when the property is sold
  • Must be your first purchase and the property must have been empty for at least six months

Area Renewal Grants

  • Maximum £20,000
  • Awarded to properties in declared Council Action Areas for ‘priority area based renewal’
  • For four or more houses, at least 60% of the houses will be affected by a lack of reasonable repair or structural instability

How do I apply for financial assistance?

Contact the Residential Services Team and Council officers will assess applications for assistance. If the council refuses your application you will receive the reason(s) in writing. If you do not agree with the reason(s) you can appeal to the Council’s Cabinet. All decisions made by Cabinet are final. Works that have already been carried out before receiving a decision from the council will receive no assistance.