Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy

• £30,000 for mandatory works subject to a statutory means test
• if the Means Test demonstrates an applicant's income exceeds the threshold, the grant will be reduced by the amount the applicant is required to contribute

• any disabled person, as described by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 s100
• applicants can be owner-occupiers, private tenants, or tenants of a Registered Provider
• tenants will be required to have a tenancy agreement and for their landlord to confirm that subject to tenancy breaches they can remain in the property for a minimum of 5 years

• houses
• flats
• bungalows
• mobile homes
• residential boats

• works that are essential for access, personal care, bedroom, kitchen, safety and services as described in the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 s 23
• works must be necessary and appropriate to meet the needs of the disabled person; and
• works must be reasonable and practical to carry out having regard to the age and condition of the dwelling or building
• fees for costs and professional services in connection with the scheme
• cost of a five-year stair-lift, through floor lift or external lift warranty and wash-dry toilets warranty as part of the overall installation cost

For clients of the Home Improvement Agency, eligible costs will be determined by the tendered contract framework or through a competitive tender process for large scale works (where several works are required to adapt the property or where small extensions are required).

For clients not using the Home Improvement Agency eligible costs will be determined by the submission of a minimum of two independent quotes for the recommended works, which will then be assessed for reasonable cost. These quotes should include, where appropriate, professional fees, for example a structural surveyor.

• improving access to the home and garden and to principal rooms within the home as described in section 23 of the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 - this includes dropped kerbs from the public highway subject to the Highways Authority approval
• improving access to principal rooms within the home
• making the dwelling safe for use by the disabled person
• providing washing, toilet and cooking facilities where necessary
• improving or providing heating
• adapting controls to power, light and heating to make them easier to use
• cost of extended warranties on stair-lift, through floor lift, external lift and wash-dry toilets

• necessary work to facilitate the DFG such as carrying out essential repairs to enable the adaptation such as investigation and works to remediate damp in a bathroom being converted to provide a level access shower
• necessary works to enable a live in carer to support the disabled person by providing sleeping, bathing or essential family space

• applications for adaptations can be made to Norfolk County Council Adult Social Care, or directly to the Council's Independent Living Service
• applications are processed and if eligible a home visit is booked to gather the necessary information
• where adaptations are identified the applicant will be invited to complete a financial assessment to identify if the client is eligible for a grant and if so, the level of any contribution the client will make. If the client's contribution exceeds the costs of the work required, no grant will be provided
• a grant will only be approved if the applicant is eligible and where the work is both necessary and appropriate and reasonable and practical
• the complete application process can be found on our Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) page

• mandatory DFG grants of £5,000 or less do not have to be repaid
• mandatory DFG grants exceeding £5,000 up to the maximum statutory award of £30,000 will be subject to repayment; the maximum amount the Council can require to be repaid is £10,000
• discretionary top-up grants to cover costs over £30,000 will be required to be repaid in full
• the Council will secure the amount to be repaid by applying a limited charge to the property registered with Land Registry
• for mandatory DFG up to £30,000 the limited charge will last for 10 years from completion of the works and will require to be repaid if the property is disposed through sale, assigned or transferred to another person during that time