Homeowners
Financial assistance
Disabled facilities grant
Non financial assistance
Handyperson service
Housing advisor (maintaining independence)
Homeowners
Practical assistance to homeowners who want help with carrying out works to their homes is provided through the Renewal & Grants Service. In very general terms the help that we provide falls under two headings: ‘Financial Assistance’ and ‘Non- Financial Assistance’.
Financial Assistance is provided through grants, including disabled facilities grants. These are closely targeted to the most vulnerable homeowners who would otherwise be unable to afford to carry out necessary repairs and also adaptations.
Non-Financial Assistance is provided through tailored advice and direct assistance to carry out necessary works at the owner’s own expense. Included in this assistance is a handyperson service that can provide practical help with minor repairs.
The Renewal & Grants Service also has a role in working with Adult Social Care colleagues in supporting people to live independently, in their own home for as long as they want or are able to. Our Housing Adviser (Maintaining Independence) works with homeowners to bring together a range of services that might be available both through the council and from outside the council that could be used to repair and improve their home which in turn will make it suitable for them to continue to live independently.
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Financial Assistance
In 1976 Leicester’s Private Housing Renewal Strategy was agreed. The plan was to improve private sector housing and its environment in the city. This was done through:
- Preventing and tackling unfitness and disrepair in low-income owner-occupier households.
- Creating a neighbourhood environment that encourages people to live and stay there.
- Supporting vulnerable people to live independently in their own homes.
A broadly area-based programme was followed. Renewal Areas and Home Improvement Areas were declared and in those areas substantial incentives to homeowners to carry out comprehensive home improvements were offered through grants and other forms of assistance.
Unfortunately in October 2010 the Government announced that they were ending all support for private housing renewal. As a consequence the Council had to stop our renewal programme as there was no funding to keep it going.
However in 2011 the City Mayor announced that he wanted to “Explore in full all possible opportunities and options to progress and restart programmes for private housing renewal”. As a result of that work a modest scheme of financial assistance has been set up.
In December 2011 the Cabinet agreed to provide Repayable Home Repair Grants to qualifying homeowners. The report to Cabinet setting out all the details can be viewed here. (Hyperlink needed to: http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=647&MId=4406&Ver=4)
The Repayable Home Repair Grants are targeted towards vulnerable homeowners whose property fails to meet the decent homes standard. Vulnerable households are defined as homeowners who are receiving one of the main means tested benefits. They can be used to deal with any items that cause the property to fail the decent homes standard for which other public funds are not available.
The grant amount will generally be between £1,000 and £10,000 but this general maximum amount can be exceeded in exceptional cases. The grant will become repayable when the property is sold or ownership is transferred to other than a spouse. No interest is added to the amount to be repaid.
All homeowners who are interested in a Repayable Home Repair Grant are advised to take independent financial advice if they have any concerns.
All homeowners who take up a Repayable Home Repair Grant will be assisted through our in-house Home Improvement Agency Service to obtain suitable estimates for the work, to deal with all the necessary paperwork and to help ensure that the work is completed to a satisfactory standard.
Contact us for more information at:
Renewal and Grants Service
Housing Division
Ian Marlow Centre
57 Blackbird Road
Leicester LE4 0AR
Tel: 0116 252 6114
Email: housing.renewal@leicester.gov.uk
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Disabled Facilities Grants
Disabled Facilities Grants are available to disabled people who need essential adaptation work carried out to give them greater freedom of movement in and around their home.
The types of work that are covered by a Disabled Facilities Grant are quite varied but include:
- Making it easier to get in and out of the dwelling by, for example, widening doors and installing ramps
- Making access to the living room easier
- Providing or improving access to the bedroom, kitchen, toilet, washbasin and bath (and/or shower) facilities; for example, by installing a stair lift or providing a level access shower
All Disabled Facilities Grants are subject to a means test.
In order to explore the possibilities of obtaining a disabled facilities grant it will be necessary for the disabled person to be assessed to see what his/her needs are and what form of assistance is most appropriate. Very often only minor works are necessary to achieve a great deal of improvement. Those cases are not dealt with through the disabled facilities grant process which is reserved for more major works.
To find out if we can help please contact us through:
Leicester City Adults Social Care services,
1 Grey Friars, Leicester, LE1 5PH
Tel: 0116 252 7004
Minicom/Texbox: 0116 252 7011
Email: customer.services@leicester.gov.uk
Once an assessment has been made which results in the definite need for a disabled facilities grant then you can find out more about the grant application process itself by contacting:
Renewal and Grants Service
Housing Division
Ian Marlow Centre
57 Blackbird Road
Leicester LE4 0AR
Tel: 0116 252 6112
Email: dfg@leicester.gov.uk
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Non-Financial Assistance
Citywide Home Maintenance Service
The main thrust of our citywide Home Maintenance Service is to provide advice and assistance to homeowners wanting to maintain or improve their homes but where no direct financial assistance is to be provided.
Following an inspection visit we are able to provide:
- Advice on home maintenance, energy efficiency and home security
- A home maintenance inspection report outlining works required
- Details of builders on our authorised list
- Information about the Council’s ‘Handyperson’ Service for qualifying residents
Renewal and Grants Service
Housing Division
Ian Marlow Centre
57 Blackbird Road
Leicester LE4 0AR
Tel: 0116 252 8219
Email: Handypersonsservice@leicester.gov.uk
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Handyperson Service
The Handyperson Service is able to carry out small home maintenance jobs such as:
- Plumbing
- Glazing
- Woodwork
- Windows and door repairs
- Security Works (Door & window locks)
- Electrical
- Fencing & Gates
- Minor adaptation works, such as grab rails
- Keysafe boxes
In order to qualify for the service you must be:
- An older person over 60 years of age
- A disabled person
- A single parent
- A low income family
A charge is made for the work undertaken. All customers are required to pay the full cost of any materials used and then the labour costs are adjusted according the the customer’s ability to pay.
£15.00 (inc VAT) per hour for people in receipt of one of the main means tested benefits (excludes Working Tax Credit)
£18.00 (inc VAT) per hour for people in receipt of Working Tax Credit
£30.00 (inc VAT) per hour for all other eligible customers
Payment is collected on completion of the work and customers will be asked to provide proof of any benefits received in order to qualify for the discounted prices.
For further information please contact us at:
Renewal and Grants Service
Housing Division
Ian Marlow Centre
57 Blackbird Road
Leicester LE4 0AR
Tel: 0116 252 6277/ 6292/ 8218
Email: Handypersonsservice@leicester.gov.uk
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Housing Adviser (Maintaining Independence)
Our Housing Adviser (Maintaining Independence) works with homeowners to bring together a range of services that might be available both through the council and from outside the council that could be used to repair and improve their home which in turn will make it suitable for them to continue to live independently.
For further information please contact us at:
Renewal and Grants Service
Housing Division
Ian Marlow Centre
57 Blackbird Road
Leicester LE4 0AR
Tel: 0116 252 6114
Email: housing.renewal@leicester.gov.uk
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