Housing Options Guide

Repairing & Improving Occupied Private Housing

Introduction

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.

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 :-

Eaga Ltd adminster the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government. Contact Eaga for more information and to see if you can qualify for the grant.

If you qualify Eaga will then send you a list of approved installation companies operating in South Ayrshire who can undertake the works.

Eaga Freephone :- 0800 072 0150
Eaga Website :- www.eaga.co.uk

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.

Eaga Ltd adminster the scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government. Contact Eaga for more information and to see if you can qualify for the grant.

Eaga Freephone :- 0800 072 0150
Eaga Website :- www.eaga.co.uk

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 :-

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 :-

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