Home Improvements - Housing Renovation Assistance for
Homeowners
Ryedale District Council has several forms of
assistance available for homeowners needing to renovate
their homes who meet certain eligibility criteria.
Home Repair
Loans
Home Repair 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 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 you must be on a
low income
- If you are over 60 years you must not be in
receipt of
benefit·
What are they available
for?
- Works of repair to windows and doors
- Crime prevention measure
- Repairs to the basic fabric of the building
to make it wind and weatherproof and structurally sound
- To eradicate rising and other forms of
dampness e.g. by provision of Damp Proof Course, 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.
More information about energy efficiency is
available from the Energy
Saving Trust website. Alternatively you can
contact them by telephone on 0800 512012.
Sustainability 4 Yorkshire is part-owned by
Ryedale District Council, this organisation provides
information for individuals, businesses and communities. For
more information about how they can help you to save energy visit
their website www.yorkshireenergypartnership.org.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 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
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.
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
- 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
- is aged 18 or over and
- has enough equity available in their home
What kind of work can I get
assistance with?
- Essential work where your Health & Safety
is at risk e.g. faulty electrical wiring or a leaking roof
- Work that can bring your house up to a decent
standard e.g. fitting a new bathroom or kitchen
- To help pay for your contribution towards a
Disabled Facilities Grant
How does it work?
- The Council will help you determine what work can be included
within the loan, and assist you with the application process
- The amount you borrow is calculated as a percentage of your
property value at eh time the loan is taken out
- The total borrowing, including any outstanding mortgages and
other secured loans, must not exceed 70% of the unimproved value of
your home
- The maximum value of a Home Appreciation Loan is normally to be
no more than 50% of the property value
- A valuation of your property is arranged through an independent
valuer to establish the current market value of your property
- The minimum loan amount that can be borrowed is normally £2,000
and the maximum is normally £30,000
- There are no monthly repayments
- There is no set repayment term
- The loan is secured as a legal charge against your
property
- 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.
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.