Repair & Renovation Loans

We have introduced a system of discretionary loans to help private sector residents meet the costs of maintaining their home.

If you own your home or rent privately and have an obligation to carry out repairs, you could be eligible for a loan, which is awarded to fund certain works considered essential for the property to meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard .

Applications are means-tested to see if you need to contribute towards the cost of the works. This is based on the income and savings of the applicant (and spouse where applicable).

Two types of loans are available. Depending on the degree of disrepair of your property you may either qualify for a Renovation Loan or a Repair Loan.

• Renovation loans are payable up to a maximum of £8000

• Repair Loans are payable up to a maximum of £5000

Renovation Loans will apply where funds are required to meet the cost of renewal and a Repairs Loan will apply where items can be repaired without being replaced.

The loan is interest-free, will be subject to a Legal Charge Agreement and registered as a charge on the property to which it applies. The applicant will not be required to repay it until the next full disposal of their property. A fee will be included in the loan to meet the cost of registering the charge against the property.

Where the total loan offered is insufficient to cover the full cost of the work then the applicant would be required to fund the shortfall. In this case the Council will prioritise the work that the loan will fund.

Loans are not available for repair works which are or could be the subject of an insurance claim or for works outside those required to bring a property up to a Decent Homes standard as defined by Department for Communities and Local Government.

What do I do next?

If you are interested in applying for a loan for essential repair / renovation work to your home please contact the Customer Contact Centre on 01293 438000 to request an application form, alternatively you download one from the links section below or complete our online application form .

Important Notes

• All awarded loans are registered as a legal charge on the property.
• Loans are required to be repaid, in full, to the Council upon future disposal of the premises.
• Full details on loan conditions will be provided prior to application.
• If you are unsure on any issues regarding loan conditions you are advised to take independent legal advice.
• The budget for these loans is limited and there is no guarantee that submitting an application will result in a loan being approved.
• Due to the popularity of these loans it is likely that a waiting list will be in operation.

For further information on grants and loans available for repairing and adapting your home follow the link.

Links

• Private Sector Housing Loan – Preliminary Enquiry Online Form
• Private Sector Housing Loan - Preliminary Enquiry Downloadable Form
• Discretionary Loans - Information Fact sheet
• Decent Homes – A Definition