Pembrokeshire Housing Financial Assistance Policy
Summary of adaptations and other assistance available
The following is a summary of the financial assistance products available:
Minor aids and adaptations (less than or equal to £350)
Rapid Response Adaptations Programme (RRAPS delivered by West Wales C&R)
Small adaptations
Where works identified as less than or equal to £1,000.
Medium adaptations
Where works are identified equal to or less than £7,000.
- Discretionary Disabled Assistance (DDA) abled Adaptations Top-Up Assistance
- Disabled Facilities Grant (Small/Medium)
- Relocation Grant
- Scooter Store Assistance
Large Adaptations (mandatory funding)
- Disabled Facilities Grant (Large)
Other financial assistance (discretionary)
- Lifetime Loan
- Health and Housing Ancillary Assistance
- Empty Homes Grants
Housing Improvement Loans (discretionary)
- Home Improvement Loan (Safe Warm Secure)
- Houses into Homes Loan (Empty Property Loan Scheme)
The availability of all Grant or Loan assistance will be subject to the Council’s annual budget setting procedure. All non-mandatory grants/loans are offered at the Council’s discretion and the framework for these grants/loans is subject to this Policy.
Some grants and/or loans are awarded on condition that the applicant will repay the grant/loan amount in full to the Council if the property is sold or not occupied as intended within an agreed time period. Full details of the grant/loan conditions are issued direct to applicants, in writing, at the time that a grant/loan is approved.
The grant/loan condition period starts on the date that work is completed to the satisfaction of the Council. Dependent on the type of grant or loan product, charges are lodged with the Land Registry prior to the approval of a grant/loan or as a Local Land Charge when work has been completed (dependent on type and value of grant/loan).
In certain circumstances waiver of grant/loan conditions can be considered. Decisions on any waiver of repayment are made by the Team Manager for Housing Grants and Loans with agreement from the Head of Housing and Public Protection (or equivalent).
Disabled Facilities Grant conditions imposed under this Policy remain as defined in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and any associated Regulations made under this Act as well as detailed within this Policy. Whilst this Policy gives a guide to the conditions, detailed guidance and a statement of law is available with reference to this legislation.
For certain types of discretionary grants and loans, conditions are placed on grant/loan either through a local land charge or a full Legal Charge with the Land Registry, depending on the value of the loan/grant. The powers that enable the local authority to secure these charges are defined within the Regulatory Reform Order 2002 and will be outlined to grant/loan applicants within the Grant/Loan Offer letter/agreement. The offer of the grant/loan will be subject to the applicant agreeing that a local land charge or legal charge is secured on the property and any successors in title if repayment has not been made prior to this time.
It should be noted that the Council:
- cannot pay for the same adaptations/work twice (except in exceptional circumstances for minor/small works).
- will not pay for extending a service contract beyond the initial period, or for carrying out a replacement of equipment where servicing and maintenance has not been kept up to date.