Home Improvements
The following information is intended to help Ryedale
residents in aspects of home improvements.
Adaptations to a council property
In 1991 the Council transferred its Council houses to Ryedale
Housing Association, which manages them independently of the
Council. For further information on housing management issues
or waiting list enquiries, please contact Ryedale Housing
Association on 01653 600300 or visit their website.
Home Repair Loans
Home repair grants and loans are a discretionary form of
assistance designed to provide help either through a grant or the
provision of material for small-scale works of repair, improvements
or adaptation to a dwelling or mobile home. They are designed for
small-scale works of up to £5,000 per single application.
Eligibility criteria:
- You must be aged 18 or over on the date of
application
- You must have an owner's interest in the property and
live in the property as your main residence.
- The property has to be more than 10 years
old.
- You must have a duty or power to carry out the works
in question.
Eligibility for Home Repair
Loan:-
- If you are under 60 years of age, you must be
on a low income
- If you are over 60 years of age you must not be in
receipt of benefit
What are they available
for?
- Works of repair to windows and doors
- Crime prevention measures
- Repairs to the basic fabric of the building to make it
wind and weatherproof and structurally sound
- To eradicate rising or other forms of dampness e.g by
provision of DPC, remedial pointing etc.
- Electrical defects.
Repayment Provisions
Any financial assistance provided in the form of a Home
Repair Loan will be registered as a charge against the
property on the Local Land Charges Register. The amount of loan
approved will be repaid in full upon the applicant relinquishing
their interest in the property. There are no time limits attached
to this condition to repay the amount of loan awarded.
For further information please contact Housing Services on 01653
600666 or email housing@ryedale.gov.uk.
Energy Efficiency Grants
Energy efficiency grants are a discretionary form of
assistance, aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing fuel
poverty and reducing the carbon emissions of homes. These grants
are designed to improve insulation levels of homes to current
standards and to repair or replace heating systems. There are two
types of grants available for insulation measures and improvements
to heating systems.
Eligibility to secure improved
insulation:-
- You must be over 60 or claiming specific benefits
- You must live in the property as your only or main
residence
- The works are required to alleviate fuel
poverty
What are they available
for?
- Loft insulation
- Cavity Wall insulation
- Draught proofing
- Energy efficient light bulbs
- Insulation to the hot water cylinder
Eligibility to secure improvements to
heating systems:-
- You must be over 60 or claiming specific
benefits
- You must live in the property as your only or main
residence
- The works are required to alleviate fuel
poverty
- The property must be in Council Tax Band A,B,or
C
What they are available
for?
- Provision of gas, oil or other central heating system
with boiler and up to 5 radiators (when the existing
system is beyond economic repair)
- Repairs to existing systems
- Conversions or alterations of a solid fuel open fire or
stove
For further information please contact Housing Services on 01653
600666 or email housing@ryedale.gov.uk.
Decent Homes Loan
The Decent Homes Loan is available to
qualifying applicants in order to enable them to undertake a scheme
of works, which will enable their homes to meet the Decent Homes
Standard. Although not enforceable, it is used as the national
measure for sustainable private housing.
Eligibility criteria:
- You must be aged 18 or over on the date of
application
- You must have an owners interest in the property and live in
the property as their main residence.
- The property has to be more than 10 years old.
- You must have a duty or power to carry out the works in
question.
- If you are under 60 years of age, you must be able to
satisfy the vulnerability criteria in relation to the receipt of
benefit
- If you are over 60 years of age, you must be able to satisfy
the vulnerability criteria in relation to the receipt of benefit or
be on a low income
Eligible Works
All works which are required to be undertaken
in order to ensure that the dwelling will comply with the following
standards, will be eligible for a Decent Homes Loan.
- It meets the current minimum standard for housing.
- It has reasonable modern facilities and services.
- It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort
- It is in a reasonable state of
repair
Repayment
Provisions
Any financial assistance provided in
the form of a Decent Homes Loan will be registered as a charge
against the property on the Local Land Charges Register. The amount
of loan approved will be repaid in full upon the applicant
relinquishing their interest in the property. There are no time
limits attached to this condition to repay the amount of loan
awarded.
For further information please contact Housing
Services on 01653 600666 or email housing@ryedale.gov.uk.
Empty Property Grants
Empty Property grants are a discretionary form
of assistance designed to provide practical help by means of a
grant for renovation/repair work to ensure the property complies
with the Decent Homes Standard. They cover 50% of the cost of
renovation works up to a maximum of £15,000 per single application.
They are subject to the condition that Ryedale District Council
receives nomination rights for the property for a period of 5 years
following completion of works.
Eligibility criteria:
- You must be over 18 at time of application.
- You must have an owner's interest in the property.
- The property has to be more than 10 years old.
- It must have been empty for more than 6 months.
- It will be subject to grant conditions.
What are they available
for?
- Works of major repair to the property
- Works to cover improvements to energy efficiency.
- Within these general guidelines the Council will determine what
works would be grant aided.
For further information contact Housing Services on 01653 600666
or email housing@ryedale.gov.uk.
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)
Grants
HMO grants are a discretionary form of
assistance designed to provide practical help either through a
grant for the installation of fire precaution or the provision of
the required amenities. They cover 50% of the cost of improvement
works up to a maximum of £15,000 per single application.
Eligibility criteria:
- You must be over 18 at time of application.
- You must have an owner's interest in the property
- The property has to be more than 10 years old.
- It will be subject to grant conditions.
What are they available for?
- Provision of adequate means of escape and detection in case of
fire.
- Provision of missing and inadequate amenities.
Within these general guidelines the Council will determine what
works would be grant aided.
For further information contact Housing Services on 01653 600666
or email housing@ryedale.gov.uk.
Disabled Facilities Grant
If you have a disability and have difficulties
managing in your home, it may be possible to reduce these problems
by altering or adapting your home. Initial referrals for grant
assistance are made by NYCC Adult & Community Care Services.
For further information please visit the North Yorkshire County
Council website.
Disabled Facilities Grant is intended to
enable disabled people to continue to live in their own homes by
providing them with the necessary adaptations. The applicant need
not be the disabled person himself, but must be the owner or tenant
of the property to be adapted (eg a parent may apply on behalf of a
child).
Grants may be mandatory or discretionary, depending on the work to
be done, but all applicants are subject to a means test. The
current grant limit is £30,000. The type of work covered by the
grant may include:
- work to provide improved access within the property, eg
provision of stair lifts, widening of doorways,through floor
lifts.
- providing downstairs bathroom facilities
- providing ramps and handrails
- providing showers with wheelchair access.
Eligibility
- You must be the owner of the dwelling or be a tenant
and be able to provide the Council with an 'owner' or 'tenant'
certificate. This does not have to be the disabled person for whom
the works are required.
- A landlord can apply on behalf of a disabled tenant. The
landlord will be required to sign a certificate stating that the
tenant will occupy the dwelling as his or her only or main dwelling
for a period of five years from completion of works.
All applications are made through the recommendation of North
Yorkshire County Council's Adult and Community Care Services.
For further information please contact Housing Services on 01653
600666 or email housing@ryedale.gov.uk.
Home Appreciation Loans
The Home Appreciation Loan is a secured loan that allows you to
release equity from your home to make repairs/improvements to your
property. The loan does not become repayable until you transfer
ownership of your house e.g if you sell your home.
Who is this loan for?
Anyone who owns and lives in their own home
and
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is vulnerable - for example on a low
income, on certain types of benefit, such as people who are
elderly, in poor health or unable to access commercial loans
and
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is aged 18 or over and
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has enough equity available in their
home
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What kind of work can I get assistance
with?
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Essential work where your health & safety
is at risk eg faulty electrical wiring or a leaking roof.
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Work that can bring your house up to a decent
standard eg fitting a new bathroom or kitchen.
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To help pay for your contribution towards a
Disabled Facilities Grant.
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How does it work?
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The Council will help you determine what work
can be included within the loan, and assist you with the
application process.
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The amount you borrow is calculated as a
percentage of your property value at the time the loan is taken
out.
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The total borrowing, including any outstanding
mortgages and other secured loans, must not exceed 70%* of the
unimproved value of your home.
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The maximum value of a Home Appreciation Loan
is normally to be no more than 50% of the property value.
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A valuation of your property is arranged
through an independent valuer to establish the current market value
of your property.
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The minimum loan amount that can be borrowed
is normally £2,000 and the maximum is normally £30,000.
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There are no monthly repayments.
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There is no set repayment term.
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The loan is secured as a legal charge against
your property.
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The loan is repayable when you transfer
ownership of your property, when you move into long-term care or
sheltered accommodation or when you die.
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* 70% of free equity is normally the maximum amount that can be
applied for and Ryedale District Council will use it's discretion
when dealing with loan applications to ensure they are lending
responsibly, therefore a lower % may be more suitable for some
clients.
It is strongly recommended that before committing
yourself to this form of borrowing you seek independent financial
and legal advice and satisfy yourself that the loan will meet your
needs if you want to move or sell your home or if you want your
family to inherit it.
For further information contact Housing Services on 01653 600666
or email housing@ryedale.gov.uk.