Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy
The following “assistance” will be made available by the
authority.
Direct Financial Assistance
Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all those entitled to a Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant,
are afforded the opportunity to apply for and receive said
grant.
The grant applicant will normally be an owner-occupier, a
private sector tenant, a private sector landlord, or a Housing
Association tenant, although applications from prospective
occupiers can be considered.
The disabled person and any partner will normally be means
tested to determine how much, if anything, they must contribute to
the cost of the agreed works. If the disabled person is a
child, the means test is suspended. If the disabled person is
a private sector tenant, either the tenant and any partner will be
means tested, or the landlord will be means tested. There is
no fixed upper income or upper savings limit. Under
certain circumstances applicants can be passported to a
non-contributory grant.
In all cases the works must be necessary and appropriate to the
needs of the disabled person and must be reasonable and practicable
having regard to the age and condition of the dwelling.
The authority works in partnership with Kent County Council
Social Services in the matter of disabled adaptations and in any
case must receive a recommendation from an Occupational
Therapist from either Adult Services or Children, Families and
Education, in respect of the adaptations required.
“Disabled person” is defined in the governing legislation.
The authority would normally expect Housing Associations to
undertake adaptations from within their own resources, however,
under exceptional circumstances, Housing Association tenants’
applications will be entertained.
The maximum grant in any case is £30,000.00.
The works for which grant aid will normally be awarded are –
- To facilitate access to and from the dwelling.
- To make the dwelling safe.
- To facilitate access to the principal family room.
- To facilitate access to a room for sleeping.
- To facilitate access to an existing toilet or to provide an
accessible toilet.
- To facilitate access to a bath/shower room or to provide an
accessible bath/shower room.
- To facilitate access to a wash hand basin or to provide an
accessible wash hand basin.
- To facilitate the preparation and cooking of food.
- To improve or provide a suitable heating system.
- To facilitate the use of power, light or heat by adapting
existing controls or providing new controls.
- To enable the care of another person normally present in the
property, and in need of care.
- To facilitate access to a garden area.
The governing legislation is the Housing Grants, Construction
and Regeneration Act 1996 as amended by the Regulatory Reform
(Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 and the Housing
Act 2004.
The Order extended the availability of grant to those
living in mobile/park homes and and to those living in
house-boats.
The Disabled Facilities Grant legislation is complex and the
above is a brief synopsis of the main provisions. Anyone who
has mobility problems or is experiencing difficulty accessing their
home, or the facilities within it, is advised to enquire further as
other assistance may be available if a Disabled Facilities Grant is
inappropriate.
Indirect Financial Assistance and Partnership Working
Ashford Home Improvement Agency
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all those eligible for assistance from the Ashford Home
Improvement Agency, are afforded the opportunity to secure such
assistance.
The Ashford Home Improvement Agency is supported financially by
the local authority, Kent County Council and Central Government and
is managed by “intouchsupport”, a subsidiary of the Hyde Group. The
agency generally offers help and advice on home improvements,
repairs and adaptations to older (55 years of age or more),
vulnerable and/or disabled people, assisting them to remain in
their own homes in comfort and safety.
The agency is particularly adept at maximising income by
ensuring that appropriate benefits are received, and sourcing money
for works from a variety of organisations, including charitable
bodies. The agency can also assist with applications for mandatory
disabled facilities grant, ensuring that works are carried out to a
good standard by using approved builders and by on-site supervision
by qualified and experienced surveyors. The authority has been
working in partnership with the Ashford Home Improvement Agency
since 1989.
Energy Saving Trust Energy Advice Centre (Kent, Sussex, and
Surrey)
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all residents of the Borough are afforded the opportunity of
consulting the local Energy Advice Centre with regard to any
matters relating to energy efficiency.
The Energy Saving Trust Energy Advice Centre is supported
financially by the local authority, together with all other Kent
local authorities, and is managed by Creative Environmental
Networks (CEN). Certain specific initiatives are supported by e.g.
energy providers, such as Seeboard Energy.
The original Energy Advice Centre (The Kent Energy Centre)
was established in 2000 and then and now provides impartial expert
help and advice to local residents, and to private sector
landlords. Eligible enquirers will be directed to grant or
discount schemes as appropriate or given advice only, including
being provided with individual energy efficiency improvement
programmes based on detailed self-assessment energy surveys of
their homes.
The authority works with the Centre to implement the Kent
Health and Affordable Warmth Strategy, which aims to alleviate fuel
poverty throughout the County generally and within the Borough of
Ashford in particular.
National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL)
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all owners and potential owners of privately rented
accommodation within the Borough are afforded the opportunity of
securing help and advice from the National Federation of
Residential Landlords.
The National Federation of Residential Landlords is a
professional organisation of residential landlords. The Federation
seeks to protect and further the interests of residential
landlords, encouraging high standards of management and quality
accommodation and promoting new investment.
Third Party Loan Assistance
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all owners of residential accommodation within the Borough,
are afforded the opportunity of securing impartial help and advice
in respect of the availability of appropriate loans for essential
repairs, improvements and/or adaptations. This may be by
direct referral to any number of “High Street” lenders or to an
appropriate independent financial advisor or to another
intermediary third party organisation specialising in such
work.
General Assistance
Help and Advice
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all residents of the Borough and all owners of residential
accommodation within the Borough, are afforded the opportunity of
securing expert, impartial help and advice in respect of housing
related matters generally through suitably qualified and
experienced staff within the authority. In particular, the
authority will encourage sustainable home ownership by providing
advice to prospective purchasers on the long-term commitments
associated with owner-occupation.
Private Sector Landlords
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all private sector landlords owning tenanted property within
the Borough are aware of their obligations under the relevant
statutory provisions. The authority will support and deliver
integrated measures to ensure continued improvements in the
management and standards in the private rented sector. There
is a high demand for privately rented accommodation within the
Borough, and the authority will encourage existing landlords to
increase their portfolios and provide every assistance to potential
new landlords looking to establish themselves locally.
Private Sector Tenants
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all private tenants within the Borough, including Housing
Association tenants, are afforded access to a comprehensive Housing
Advice Service and are given support, where necessary, to ensure
that their landlords meet their statutory responsibilities.
Empty Properties
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all owners of vacant property within the Borough are provided
with sufficient help and advice to enable them to make a considered
judgement as to the future use of their property. Empty
properties are a wasted resource and in sufficient numbers can have
a negative impact on a neighborhood. They represent a
potential source of income to an owner and also to the
authority. There is a high demand for privately rented
accommodation within the Borough, and a substantial number of
long-term vacant properties that could provide comfortable homes
for those not wishing to become owner-occupiers or to rent from the
local authority or Housing Associations. Where appropriate
the authority will take formal action under the relevant statutory
provisions to ensure re-occupation.
Home Security
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all vulnerable occupiers of residential property throughout
the Borough are provided with help and advice with regard to home
security, either directly, or through a third party, and as
appropriate, are directed to any schemes currently operating, which
can provide for the installation of suitable preventative
measures.
Home Safety
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all vulnerable occupiers of residential property throughout
the Borough are provided with help and advice with regard to home
safety measures, either directly or through a third party.
Affordable Housing
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all potential residents of the Borough are afforded the
opportunity, where appropriate, to access affordable housing.
Mobile Homes/Park Homes etc
The authority will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable,
that all occupiers of residential mobile homes throughout the
Borough reside on sites that meet the appropriate standards under
the current licensing regime.
Decent Homes
The authority will assist, as far as is reasonably practicable,
in bringing all owner-occupied and privately rented property, by
appropriate means and in the fullness of time, up to the
government’s decent homes standard.
Enforcement
The authority will normally try to secure the repair and/or
improvement of residential property throughout the Borough, whether
owner-occupied or privately rented, by informal means.
However, where an imminent danger is identified, or where an owner
does not respond to an informal approach within a reasonable period
of time, enforcement procedures under the relevant statutory
provisions will be implemented.
Future Initiatives
The authority will investigate new initiatives as and when they
arise and will, as appropriate, introduce them into the Private
Sector Housing Renewal Policy. The authority will continue to
develop existing partnerships and will seek to introduce new
partnerships where appropriate. The authority will continue
to explore the use of innovative funding streams to support the
Renewal Policy.
This webpage was updated on
2/16/2009