Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy
7. Assistance available
The Council will provide financial assistance and advice and information to applicants as set out below.
7.1Financial assistance
| Name | Maximum | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) | Mandatory | £30,000 | To help with the cost of essential adaptations to give an occupant better freedom of movement into and around their home and to access essential facilities within it. |
| DFG Top Up Grant | Discretionary | £20,000 | Where a client has been awarded a mandatory DFG, a discretionary support grant may also be provided where the cost of works exceeds the statutory maximum grant of £30,000. |
| Norfolk & Waveney Equity Loan | Discretionary | £50,000 | This discretionary loan can be used in situations where relocation could be a more suitable solution for some applicants in preference to repair or adaptation of their existing dwelling or to fund works required to free their home of serious hazards, which would affect the health and safety of the occupants. |
| GYBC Equity Loan | Discretionary | £50,000 | This discretionary loan can be used in situations where relocation could be a more suitable solution for some applicants in preference to repair or adaptation of their existing dwelling or to fund works required to free their home of serious hazards, which would affect the health and safety of the occupants. |
| Home Repair Grant | Discretionary | £5,000 | To help with minor repairs to a buildings structure to mitigate hazards or improve living conditions. |
| Be at Home Adaptations Grant | Discretionary | £5,000 | To either enable timely hospital discharge or provide a proactive prevention service that prevents hospital admission. |
| Be at Home Alarms | Discretionary | £0 | To facilitate safe hospital discharge or prevent imminent hospital admission. |
| Be at Home Alarms Plus+ | Discretionary | £600 | To ensure ongoing alarm cover for the most vulnerable residents of the borough following the initial 'Be at Home' alarm loan period of 6 weeks. |
| Heating Repair/ Energy Efficiency Grant | Discretionary | £5,000 | Grant to undertake repair or refurbishment of existing central heating systems, or the installation of insulation measures, including infill properties under Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 |
| Heating Installation/ Energy Efficiency Equity Loan | Discretionary | £30,000 | Equity loan to undertake the installation of new central heating systems, and/or the installation of insulation measures, |
Full details of the financial assistance available is contained in the appendices as follows:
- Appendix 1: Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant
- Appendix 2: Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant Top Up Grant
- Appendix 3: Discretionary Norfolk and Waveney Equity Loan Scheme
- Appendix 4: Discretionary Equity Loan
- Appendix 5: Discretionary Home Repair Grant
- Appendix 6: Discretionary 'Be at Home' Adaptations Scheme
- Appendix 7: Discretionary 'Be at Home' Alarms Scheme
- Appendix 8: Discretionary 'Be at Home 'Alarms Plus+' Scheme
- Appendix 9: Discretionary Heating Repair or Energy Efficiency Measures Grant
- Appendix 10: Discretionary Heating Installation or Energy Efficiency Measures Loan
All assistance is subject to the applicant meeting eligibility criteria, additionally discretionary assistance is subject to funding availability at the time.
7.2Practical assistance and advice
The Council provides a range of advice and information to assist owner occupiers, tenants renting privately and private sector landlords to support housing standards within the borough.
- Independent Living Service
The Council provides support to older or vulnerable people to enable them to remain in their own homes. The service delivers tailored advice and support, linking clients to independent advice and financial help to deal with repairs, improvement and adaptations needs.
- Community Hub
Through the Community Hub clients can be put in touch with a wide range of voluntary sector support agencies and projects. The service also provides advice and information on alternative sources of funding including supporting residents to apply for charitable funding.
- Environmental Services
Advice and information to landlords and tenants plus as necessary enforcement action to ensure properties are safe and not presenting a risk to tenants.
- Housing Advice and Homeless Prevention
Where a person's home cannot be made suitable for their needs or there is an identified housing need the Housing Advice and Homeless Prevention Team can provide advice and support on the options available. This team also deals with customers who are at risk of homelessness and administers the Council's Allocation Policy and Scheme.
- District Direct
A service where a Council Housing Officer works in the discharge hub in the James Paget University Hospital providing a range housing advice and support to patients to enable safe discharge or to prevent admission.
