The Private Housing Improvement  Team are currently dealing with two Disabled Facilities Grant home extension applications where the costs are in excess of the mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant ceiling of £30k. It has recently become apparent that the two owner occupiers concerned may struggle to raise their contribution towards the costs.

In order for the Council to fully fund these extensions the Mayor in Cabinet is asked to approve a single amendment to the current Private Sector Renewal Policy in order to allow a top up discretionary grant for these and other cases to be considered where it is the best interests of the client to be awarded an additional discretionary grant.

DECISION

1.    To make the following amendment to the Private Sector Renewal Policy 2016-2018

Clause 4.1:

Change

Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants will continue to be available to eligible owner-occupiers, and private sector tenants and the maximum mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant is £30,000.

These grants are means tested except for the benefit for a disabled child under the age of 18.

Applications for discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant cannot be considered due to budget restrictions

To:

Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants will continue to be available to eligible owner-occupiers and private sector tenants and the maximum mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant is £30,000.

These grants are means tested except for the benefit for a disabled child under the age of 18.

Applications for Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant above the maximum mandatory £30k limit will be considered on a case by case basis by the Home Improvement Agency (HIA) Grants Panel. Approval will be subject to it being identified that the client would not be able raise the necessary funds to complete the works which would then result in the adaptation not being carried out.

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Housing Strategy Manager (M. Ling)