Grants

Repair & Decent Homes

Unsatisfactory Housing Assistance

Grant Assistance to a maximum of £25,000 is available for eligible repair or improvement works that contribute to the Decent Homes Standard and alleviate serious risks to health and safety.

The Council will carry out a financial test of resources to assess the owner’s contribution

Works carried out will ensure the property meets the Decent Homes Standard. At the Council's discretion a higher or lower standard of works will be agreed.

Homeowners who are unable to access a commercial or a Local Authority Loan product on reasonable terms will be eligible for grant assistance.

Funding will be considered for owner-occupiers and also resident landlords living in a pair of Tyneside flats who have both owned and lived in the property for at least three years.

Grant assistance will be available to properties within Council Tax Bands A, B, and C.

Applicants have owned and live in the dwelling for 3 years before grant application can be made

Works must be completed within 6 months of approval

Conditions apply for 5 years after the certified date on completion of the work. The grant is repayable if conditions are breached.

Conditions apply and a list of fees and charges that may be included are detailed in Appendix IV

Remedy worst cases of disrepair and serious risks to health and safety of occupants

Homes are improved to Decent Homes Standard.

Essential Minor Repair Assistance

To help with essential minor works of repair or improvement to a dwelling which is owned and occupied by elderly residents on low incomes, to allow them to stay in their own home, and to contribute to the improvement of their home upto the Decent Homes Standard

Financial assistance will be available on two occasions within a five-year period. The grant covers 100% of the cost of the eligible works, up to a maximum of £5,000.

The grant is delivered by the Councils partner Anchor NewcastleGateshead Staying Put Agency.

Where the Client is unable to access commercial or Anchor Staying Put loan on reasonable terms the following grant assistance may be considered.

Available for homeowners in Gateshead who: - are 60 years of age and over - have owned and lived in their home for at least three years - receive certain income related benefits

Grant assistance will be available to properties within Council Tax Bands A, B, and C.

Works must be completed within 6 months of approval

conditions apply for 5 years after the certified date on completion of the work. Repayment of all of grant in cases of breach of conditions.

Conditions apply and a list of fees and charges that may be included are detailed in Appendix IV

Contributes to the objectives of the 'Supporting People' programme.

Enable elderly people to “stay put” in their own homes.

Contributes towards meeting the decent homes standard for vulnerable people.

Handy Person Scheme

Contributes to the objectives of the 'Supporting People' programme.

Enable elderly people to “stay put” in their own homes.

Conversions

Conversion Assistance

Grant Assistance will be available towards 50% of eligible works for both potential owner-occupiers and landlords. This is subject to a grant limit of £25,000.

A financial test of resources can be carried out to assess an intended owner-occupiers contribution for assistance above the 50% limit. Conversions include the following:

Assistance will be available for :

• a pair of flats to a single dwelling
• a vacant shop with a flat attached, to a single dwelling
• other configurations may be considered where appropriate (but will not include loft conversions or extensions to existing single use dwellings unless the household is suffering from statutory overcrowding)

Assistance will be given for basic conversion works and works to reach the decent home standard.

Clients will be required to demonstrate that it is not possible to secure sufficient finance through a commercial product, and that a funding gap exists.

Funding will be considered for owner-occupiers and landlords

Grant assistance will be available to properties within Council Tax Bands A, B, and C.

Schemes will be assessed on individual merits and contribution toward the objectives of the Housing Renewal Strategy. Schemes that reflect the principles of good urban design will be considered.

Works must be completed within 6 months of approval

conditions apply for 5 years after the certified date on completion of the work. Repayment of all of grant in cases of breach of conditions

Conditions apply and a list of fees and charges that may be included are detailed in Appendix IV

Assist in dealing with demand for larger properties within local areas.

Will contribute towards Best value performance indicator 64 - 'Bringing Empty Properties Back Into Use'.

Reduce housing density.

Help to tackle overcrowding

Area Based

Area Renewal Assistance

To achieve renovation of defined areas. Available to both homeowners and Landlords.

As the needs of each area are identified, a range of renewal assistance will be offered which may include the following:

• Area Based Schemes
• Block improvement schemes
• Facelift schemes

A contribution from the owners towards the works is normally required. The contribution will be specified for each scheme. A financial test of resources may be carried out if requested, to assess an owner-occupiers ability to make the full contribution, and so reduce this contribution.

Grant assistance is usually subject to maximum of £25,000.

will be available for specific blocks or groups of properties

Funding will be considered for owner-occupiers and, within block improvement schemes, landlords who employ good management practices

award based on the type of works involved, the tenure of the property and financial resources available to the applicant.

Conditions apply and a list of fees and charges that may be included are detailed in Appendix IV

conditions apply for 3 years after the certified date on completion of the work. Repayment of grant on a sliding scale if breach of grant made

• Block Improvement Scheme - Durham Road
• Block Improvement Scheme - Oban Terrace

Promote confidence in neighbourhoods.

Complement the Housing Market renewal pathfinder project.

Contribute towards meeting the decent homes standard for vulnerable people.

Achieve cost savings from economies of scale.

Empty Homes

Empty Property Assistance

Grant Assistance will be available towards 50% of eligible works costs for both potential owner-occupiers and landlords. A financial test of resources can be carried out to assess an intended owner-occupiers eligibility for assistance in excess of the 50% limit.

This is subject to a grant limit of £25,000. Eligible works will be those that are required to bring back into use problem properties which have been vacant for more than 6 months.

Assistance will be given for works to reach the decent home standard.

Assistance may also be available towards the cost of demolition and rebuilding of replacement housing where renovation of empty properties is not deemed to be the most cost effective course of action

Funding will be considered for intended owner-occupiers and also for landlords

Assistance will generally not be offered to owners who appear to have allowed the property to deteriorate so as to be prejudicial to the amenities of the neighbourhood.

Grant assistance will be available to properties within Council Tax Bands A, B, and C. properties must have been vacant for at least 6 months.

Clients will be required to demonstrate that it is not possible to secure sufficient finance through a commercial product, and that a funding gap exists.

Each scheme will be assessed on it merits and how it meets the current objective of the Housing Renewal Strategy. The Council will consider applications for works that are in accordancce with the principles of good urban design.

Works must be completed within 6 months of approval

The property must be brought back into use within an agreed time period

conditions apply for 5 years after the certified date on completion of the work. Repayment of all of grant in cases of breach of conditions

Conditions that apply and a list of fees and charges, which may be included, are detailed in Appendix

Reduce the number of vacant properties in line with Best Value Performance Indicator 64.

Assist in dealing with eyesore properties.

Warm Homes

Energy Efficiency Assistance

Grant Assistance is available from the Council in partnership with Gateshead Warmzone.

To improve energy efficiency to dwellings.

Free to:

• housholds in fuel poverty
• housholds on certain passport benefits
• age 60 or over in private sector

Other specific schemes may be developed in addition to this which have specific criteria for each scheme

available to all housing tenures including owner occupiers, private rented housing Association tenants and Council Tenants

For households who do not qualify for free measures, an 'Able to Pay' scheme is offered (standard cost £99)

Helps vulnerable people who are on low incomes to improve energy efficiency to their homes

Support the Fuel Poverty Strategy Contribute towards meeting the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 targets.

Safe Homes

Home Security Assistance

To improve home safety and security for vulnerable residents

Specific schemes can include: burglar alarm installation; doors and window lock scheme; smoke detector scheme

Set up as specific Schemes which each have there own eligibility criteria

New schemes are being developed.

one application per property for a specific scheme may be approved in a five-year period.

Reduce fear of crime and the level of crime.

Support the Council’s commitment in the Community Safety strategy to reduce domestic burglaries.