Housing
Repairing and Improving Occupied Private Housing
The council operates a number of grant schemes to help people living in owner-occupied
or privately rented housing to meet the costs of having their homes repaired, improved
or adapted.
There are two main types of grant – Improvement Grants (which includes Disabled
Persons grants) and Repairs Grants. The type of grant available to you will depend
on the type of work you are planning to carry out.
The grant system is managed by the council, therefore the council is responsible
for all matters relating to the system.
Most grants are given at the discretion of the council, although in a few circumstances
the council must give you a grant.
There are also other schemes available, through other agencies, which offer home
insulation and draught proofing.
Council improvement & repair grants
Improvement grants
Discretionary grants ( non-- compulsory)
Improvement grants are discretionary awards for works to improve the condition of
houses and bring them up to the statutorily defined tolerable standard.
Discretionary grants, at the rate of 75% of the cost of the work, are also
available to make a house suitable for a disabled occupant's accommodation, welfare
or employment. For example, to provide a downstairs bedroom in a purpose built extension,
to make access easier, or to make adaptations to the kitchen.
Mandatory grants (compulsory)
The council are obliged to give you a grant if your house is the below tolerable
standard (or lacks a fixed bath or shower) and the council has served
an improvement order on the property.
A mandatory grant is also available if your home is in a council designated Housing
Action Area for improvement.
Improvement grant limit
Improvement grants are available for properties at least ten years old within Council
Tax valuation bands A, B, C, D or E. The items which qualify for improvement grants
include:
- Works to bring a house up to the Tolerable Standard
- Standard Amenities
- Damp proof treatment
- Provision of kitchen/bathroom for the first time
The maximum approved expense is £12,600 and the normal rate awarded is 50%.
However, in the case of applications in respect of houses below the Tolerable Standard,
grants can be awarded up to a rate of 75%, which is £9,450.00.
Other types of work that may attract improvement grant assistance are:
- Improving houses in Housing Action Areas
- Fire escapes for houses in multiple occupation
- Improvement of below water quality standard private water supplies by upgrading,
renewal or connection to a public water main
Improvement grants for Disabled
Grants are also available for adapting houses to meet the needs of the disabled.
This grant covers items such as widening doors, installation of ramps, ground floor
extensions, installation of showers, handrails and lifts to enable people to remain
in their own home despite changes in their personal circumstances. The expertise
of the Council's Occupational Therapists is sought to ensure that the proposed work
is essential and will meet the special needs of the disabled person.
This type of grant is available no matter when the house was built or the Council
Tax valuation band.
Repair grants
Discretionary grants (non--compulsory grants)
Repair grants for lead plumbing covers the replacement or by-passing of the lead
communication pipe, between the water supply main and the house drinking water tap
and also the replacement of the lead tank and lead pipes within a house if the drinking
water is supplied by such a tank. The maximum approved expense for lead plumbing
is £5,500.
The maximum grant payable is 50% of the maximum approved expense of £5,500
which is £2,750.
How to apply for repairs & improvement grants
An application form must be completed.Contact us on the address below:
Building
Standards Services
Burns House
Burns Statue Square
AYR
KA7 1UT
Tel (North Team): 01292 616111
Tel (South Team): 01292 616176
Application forms should be returned to the above address with a copy of 2 estimates
of the work to be carried out and a copy of the title deeds for the property.
Insulation & draught proofing grants
Two complimentary grant schemes are available to help people living in privately
owned properties to meet the costs of insulating and draught proofing their homes,
which will result in a big saving in heating costs to the household concerned.
Warm Deal Grants
The Warm Deal is funded by the Scottish Government and is aimed at improving home
energy efficiency.
- A grant of up to £500 is available if the homeowner or tenant (or their spouse)
is in receipt of one of a range of statutory benefits.
- A lower grant of £125 is available to applicants aged 60 and above, who don't
receive any specified benefits.
These grant levels are reduced to £160 (for those on specified benefits) and
£40 (for those over 60 and not on any specified benefits) where you choose
to carry out the work by yourself rather than get a professional tradesman to do
it.
If you qualify for the full grant you can receive up to £500 of energy efficiency
work including:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Draught proofing
- Hot & cold water tank & pipe insulation
- Energy advice
- Up to 4 energy efficient light bulbs
Central heating grants
The Scottish Government Central Heating Grant
The Scottish Government launched a new initiative in April 2001, making all householders
over the age of 60 eligible for a grant for the installation of central heating,
if your house does not already have an existing system.
As part of the package householders will also have insulation measures installed
and will also receive energy advice.
Eligibility for the grant is not means tested, all householders over 60, without
an existing heating system are eligible.
Under the same initiative funding is available for all council and housing association
stock without central heating systems.
South Ayrshire Council Central Heating Grants
In addition to the scheme provided by the Scottish Government, South Ayrshire Council
also currently run 2 central heating grant schemes:
- Central Heating Grant
A grant of £100 towards installing an efficient central heating system.
- Healthy Warm Homes Scheme
A grant scheme for those with respiratory and / or heart disease. To qualify you
must be referred to the scheme by a health professional.
The council has limited funding for these schemes therefore priority is given on
a first come, first served basis.
Further energy efficiency schemes may be introduced by the council in the future.
Further information on the Warm Homes and Healthy Warm Homes Scheme can be obtained
from:
The Energy Efficiency Advice Centre
9 High Street
Ayr
KA7 1LU
Freephone: 0800 512 012 (if calling from Ayrshire or Dumfries & Galloway)
Tel: 01292 280 109
Grants from the power companies
The following power companies all offer grants to their customers for home insulation
and towards the costs of upgrading heating systems to make them more efficient :
- Scottish Power
- Scottish Hydro Electric
- Scottish Gas
Grants are awarded regardless of your income.
The power companies also run various discount schemes promoting the use of energy
efficient appliances and lighting.
The status of these grants changes regularly so for up-to-date information contact
the energy efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512 012.
Grants for listed buildings & conservation areas
Historic Scotland operates a grant scheme for works to historic buildings.
The scheme provides a grant award for repairs to buildings of outstanding historic
or architectural importance. A list of buildings of outstanding historic or architectural
importance is detailed on the Historic Scotland website (web address listed below).
A grant can be given for a variety of measures to preserve homes which are listed
and / or of special architectural or historic interest.
The repairs grant system includes specific provision for the cost of measures to
preserve the architectural or historic interest in the building.
Availability of a grant will depend on the individual property and the resources
available are limited. For further information contact:
Historic Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Edinburgh
EH9 1SH
Tel: 0131 668 860
Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk