Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002

In accordance with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform Order Spelthorne Borough Council adopted its new Housing Policy in January 2003 and this came into effect on 1 April 2003. It is titled “Private Sector Housing Strategy and Procedures for Action” and can be found on this website.

Policy

The under mentioned grants and loan scheme are important tools to increase private sector renewal: -

• Disabled Facilities grants
• Houseproud Renewal Loans

Details of each type of grant/or loan scheme, including eligibility criteria, are shown below.

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) (mandatory)

We work closely with the Surrey County Council, Social Services Department, who also have responsibilities to meet the special needs of chronically sick and disabled people. In most cases an Occupational Therapist will assess the needs of the client and confirm that the works are "necessary and appropriate".

We also work closely with Care and Repair Spelthorne who are a home improvement organisation who act as agents to a grant applicant, helping them to produce a complete application.

After inspecting we have to decide that proposed works are "reasonable and practicable" – for the needs of the applicant and the type of building etc.

WARNING

If eligible works commence before the grant application has been formally approved IN WRITING the applicant will be disqualified from grant.

Eligible applicants

Any one who is registered disabled or eligible for registration as a disabled person.

All applicants are subject to a means test. The scheme is similar to the Housing Benefit's means test BUT some benefit payments can be disregarded from the grants means test.

Eligible works

• Works to help access to and from a dwelling/building containing a dwelling e.g. this could include: ramps to front and rear doors (only if reasonable and practicable); parking area in front garden including drive and dropped kerb.
• Making a dwelling safe for disabled occupant e.g. where disabled client has behavioural problems; installation of toughened glass or guards to fires and stairs etc.
• Helping access to the principal family room or bedroom e.g. widening doors, installation of stairlift/through floor lift
• Helping access to a bath/shower room e.g. replace bath with shower, shower over bath, down stairs bath/shower room, adapted facilities etc.
• Helping preparation and cooking of food by the disabled occupant e.g. modification of kitchen units for wheel chair use, etc.
• Improving or providing suitable heating for the disabled occupant e.g. replace coal fire with electric or gas fire, relocate sockets or central heating.
• Helping use of power, light or heat by the disabled occupant by altering access or controls, or by providing additional controls.
• Helping access around the dwelling to enable the disabled occupant to care for another person. e.g. widening doors, stairlifts etc.

Maximum grant £25,000.00p

How do I apply?

As mentioned above we work very closely with the Surrey County Council and Spelthorne Home and Improvement Agency and therefore access to a DFG can be made through either Authority, namely:-

Surrey County Council
Occupational Health Team
Staines & Stanwell Social Services Centre
Burges Way
Staines
TW18 1XD
tel. 01784 499306.

Care and Repair Spelthorne, c/o
A2 Housing Group
Spelthorne House
Thames Street
Staines
TW18 4TA
tel no. 0845 408 6755/6731 (you do not have to be one of their tenants)
Spelthorne Environmental Health Services 01784 446251.

Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant

These grants allow any other adaptations required that do not come under the above headings. Such work could include provision of a safe play area for a child, wheelchair storage, improved access to a garden, automatic garage doors, provide office facilities at home.

As there is no upper limit to a discretionary grant they can be provided in cases where mandatory works exceed the £25,000 max. of a mandatory grant.

N.B. Although officers do not have delegated authority to process discretionary DFGs, the Council will decide whether to process any application after considering all the circumstances.

Examples of means test

The Disabled Facility Grant is means tested. To give some indication as to the sort of income level for people to qualify I give some examples.

Any applicant in receipt of income support will receive a 100% grant and will not be means tested.

Not all income is taken into account e.g. attendance allowance, council tax benefit, disability living allowance, housing benefit, mobility allowance are all disregarded.

The first £6,000 savings are disregarded.

• Example 1 A single person aged over 25 yrs, but less than 60 yrs who is disabled can have a weekly income of up to £112 and still get a 100% grant (having disregarded the above allowances).
• Example 2 A couple aged over 25 yrs, but less than 60 yrs where one is disabled can have a joint weekly income of £202 and still get a 100% grant.
• Example 3 A single person over 60 yrs and disabled can have a weekly income of £165 and still get a 100% grant.

If your income is more than examples given you would have a contribution to make that is calculated from a tapered formula. This means that the more your income is the greater any contribution would be. For more information regarding the means test contact Spelthorne Environmental Health Services, we could even arrange to carry out a provisional test to give you a much clearer picture as to how much grant you could get. All information will be treated confidentially.

Houseproud Renewal Loans

The Borough of Spelthorne, in conjunction with many other local authorities and the Home Improvement Trust, a not-for-profit organisation, have developed the Houseproud Scheme

• The scheme is run by the Home Improvement Trust
• Home owners take out a loan secured against the value of their home, repayable usually on sale of the property, the loan being: -

	1.	Capital and interest repayment (like a traditional mortgage), or
	2.	Interest only, or
	3.	Interest roll-up (where interest is compounded and no money is paid until the sale of the property)

• The scheme is targeted towards older homeowners who are equity rich but income poor and those households with a disabled resident of any age.
• There is a guarantee of no repossession
• Applicants will be helped throughout the whole process.
• Homeowners who are under 60 and who have a disabled person in their household will also be eligible.
• The cost of the works are likely to exceed £3000

In the following circumstances the Borough of Spelthorne will contribute towards the loan set up costs: -

• The property must be fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
• The contribution will be £500, but only to the first 100 eligible applicants whose loans are approved in any financial year.
• If more than 100 loans are approved in any financial year, the applicant will be given the option to receive assistance in the next financial year or to add the fee to their Houseproud loan. (the Council will consider funding more than 100 loans in a year if the housing renewal budget is underspent)

Application procedure (takes typically three to four months)

• Client contacts Home Improvement Trust (HIT) who will send an information pack and a video – Contact the Council for an introductory leaflet, which includes a Freepost tear out page - 01784 446251
• After considering this information, client indicates to HIT they wish to proceed for further details, a Council officer will visit to assess eligibility, discuss nature of work required/estimated costs. Also determines if client is eligible for any other form of assistance. Assists client in form filling as necessary including loan analysis form – sent to HIT.
• HIT arranges for client to receive written information from an independent financial advisor.
• Client confirms they wish to proceed, HIT will send lenders application form which Council officer will assist in completion.
• Officer sends completed form together with requested documentation to HIT.
• Lender considers application and if approves HIT will send “Offer in Principle” letter with copy to Spelthorne
• Client signs “Offer in Principle” letter confirming they wish to proceed having taken independent legal advice.
• Spelthorne then passes to Apex Housing Care and Repair to arrange for estimates.  HIT instruct Valuation Officer to carry out valuation with copy to client and Care and Repair
• Valuation report received by HIT and sent to lender.
• If valuation is unsatisfactory the case will be reviewed.
• If valuation is satisfactory, the lender will make a mortgage offer to the client and instructs solicitor to act for lender. Condition that HIT authorises all payments. Legal prepare report on title and all documentation.
• Lender sends funds to solicitor to be held in client account. HIT confirms in writing to Care and Repair that works can commence and they complete HIT’s claim form and invoices following satisfactory completion.
• HIT authorises payment via solicitor.
• Solicitor sends funds to lender.
• HIT send client copy of charge certificate.
• Building insurance must remain in place throughout duration of loan.