Applying for a Housing Grant - Wrexham County Borough Council

Applyingfor aHousing Grant plumbingwrexham care and repairstairliftsdisabled facilities grantRampsA guide to what housing grantsare available and who can apply

In this bookletThis booklet provides the followinginformation: What types of grant are available Whether you could be eligible How to make an initial enquiry How to make an application Assistance with your applicationThis booklet will take you through thegrant application process and the standard ofservice you should expect from us When your grant has beenapproved After completion of the works The targets we aim for whendealing with our customers.IntroductionOver the last six years WrexhamCounty Borough Council have beenresponsible for spending a sufficientamount of funding on improvingliving conditions for owner/occupiers,tenants and disabled people in theWrexham area.This booklet has been compiled toprovide clear information aboutHousing Grants. It will enable you todetermine if you are a priority forfinancial assistance in repairing oradapting your home.Contact usIf after reading this booklet you haveany queries please do not hesitate tocontact us.Grants SectionWrexham County Borough CouncilTel: 01978 292050.what housinggrants are availableand who has priority?

DiscretionaryRenovation GrantWho can apply? Owners or Occupiers: You mustbe a Freeholder or a Leaseholderwith at least five years of the leaseremaining. The dwelling must beyours, or a member of your families'only or main residence. Landlords: You are, or will be aFreeholder or Leaseholder with atleast five years of the leaseremaining and the dwelling must belet on a residential basis and not forexample, as a holiday home. Tenants: You must be liableunder the terms of your lease ortenancy for carrying out the works inquestion. You cannot apply if you area Council Tenant.If you are in anydoubt about yourcircumstances, pleasecontact us to seeif we can help.Pre-Qualifying PeriodUnless you live within the CountyBorough's two Renewal Areas(Hightown, Brymbo/Broughton), or ina Conservation Area, a ListedBuilding or within a CommercialRegeneration Area you must haveowned and occupied the property forat least three years before applyingfor a Grant.The Means TestThe aim of the Grant System is toprovide financial help for those whocan least afford to pay for work totheir home, thereforeowner/occupiers and qualifyingtenants will be subject to a meanstest. Any amount of Grant receivedwill be the difference between theamount you are assessed as beingable to afford and the total cost of theeligible works.How will the Grant beCalculated? Cost of work will be sharedbetween all those who live inthe building, whether they arepart of the application or not. Each applicant is then subjectto a means test to determinehow much they can contributeto the grant calculated. Landlords’ contribution iscalculated by a percentage ofthe eligible works, 25% forstrategic schemes and 50% forthose Landlords outside ofthese. For more informationplease contact us:Grants Section 01978 292050The Council's PrioritiesAs often is the case, demand farexceeds funding that is available,therefore the priorities are asfollows:Priority 1a) applicants over 60 years of age,on an income related benefit, indate order of receipt of enquiry.b) disabled persons who havebeen assessed by SocialServices and have indicatedthey wish to proceed with aDisabled Facility Grant.Priority 2Applicants under 60 years of age,on an income related benefit indate order of receipt of enquiry.Priority 3Dwellings in urgent need ofrenovation after group repair.Priority 4Dwellings without standardamenities and in serious disrepairin date order of receipt of enquiry.Priority 5All other enquiries will be dealtwith in date order of receipt of theenquiry as and when resourcesbecome available.

The enquiry processand how to makean applicationInitial EnquiryApplication FormCertificatesFirstly complete the Initial EnquiryForm that you have been sent.Please complete this as fully aspossible in order for us to prioritiseyour enquiry.When your property has beensurveyed and declared unfit forhuman habitation (a technical term),you will be given an application form.This only applies to DiscretionaryRenovation Grants. Assistance incompleting this form may be providedby the Grant Officer. Wrexham Care& Repair can only offer assistance ifyou are over 60 years of age and/ordisabled.If you are a qualifying tenant, you willneed to complete the tenantCertificate and get your landlord tocomplete the Landlord Certificate.If you are an owner/occupier youmust complete the Certificate statingthat you own the property and thatyou, or a member of your familyintend to live in the property.Enquire about grant.Client sent information andwithin 5 working days1 2 initial enquiry form.4Acknowledgement sent towithin 5 working daysput on the waiting list.3Initial enquiry form returnedand prioritised.update at 6 months5Clients informed of theircurrent position for possibleGrant Aid.7Form returned and MeansTest carried out.within 30 working days6Visit by Grant Officer. Propertysurveyed and application formgiven to client.8Client informed of contributionwith a return slip to indicate ifthey wish to proceed.within 5 working days9Schedule of Works sent toclient and to private agent orIn-House Technical Agency.

Proving TitleBefore the grant is approved youmust satisfy the Council of the legalownership of the property. TheCouncil's Legal Section will send youa form which you will need to send towherever your deeds are held if theyare not in your possession.Valid ApplicationAt this time you will be informed ofthe requirements for a full application,if you wish you can employ either:Grant ApprovalOnce we receive your valid grantapplication and the necessary checkshave been completed, we candetermine your application. You willthen be sent an Approval Notice,notes on the grant conditions and theCouncil's Complaints Procedure, incase you are dissatisfied with anypart of the service you have received.A copy of the approval is also sent toyour agent.After the Grant Aided workhas been completedAfter a final inspection by theCouncil, we hope your repairs oradaptations have been completed toyour satisfaction.If you are not satisfied and have useda private agent, there is a procedurewithin the "Code of Practice" to dealwith problems with your grant. TheCouncil will only be involved whenthese procedures have beenexhausted. the Council’s own technicalagency, who act on your behalf toprovide, plans, estimates, reports,statutory surveys of Grant Aidedworks, and authorise payments; or a private agent of your choice.However, to maintain standardsand combat fraud the Council hasprovided a Code of Practice foragents undertaking grants. Thismust be adhered to. A copy isavailable on request.Generally the costs of the aboveservices will be covered by the grant,however, the grant will not be paid ifyou start the work before grantapproval.If you are using a private agent, thefee charged not only includes thepreparation of your grant application,but also for contract administrationalong with supervision of grant aidedworks. Your agent will arrange withthe successful contractor a start timeand contract period but all worksmust be completed 12 months aftergrant approval.If you have selected the Council's inhousetechnical agency, the agencywill arrange a pre-contract meetingwith yourself and the successfulcontractor for a mutually agreeablestart date. During thecommencement of the works you willbe kept informed of progress and anypossible delays at four weeklyintervals. The contract period isusually 12 weeks. There will be athree months defects period for minordefects to be dealt with. If the builderhas run over the contract period andan extension of time under thecontract cannot be justified, liquidateddamages will be payable.When using the Council's grantagency, the Council will endeavour todeal with any problems that occur.However, on the very few occasionsthat we cannot resolve issuesregarding your grant, the Council willrefer your case to Trading Standardsfor an impartial assessment.Insurance BackedGuaranteeWhen using either a private agent orthe grant agency, the Council insistthat all renovation grants anddisabled adaptations are covered bya Warranty Scheme. For up to a 10year period a guarantee issued bythe contractor for workmanship andmaterials for grant aided works willbe given to the applicant. This doesnot cover normal wear and tear ormaintenance, but is insurancebacked in case the contractor goesinto liquidation.How to makean initial

PartnershipWrexham County Borough Council,in partnership with Wrexham Careand Repair, provides advice, supportand, in some cases, financialassistance for older and/or disabledhome owners and private tenants,living within the County.What we can do for you Discuss and advise on how to payfor work that needs to be done. Help with filling in forms for grants,benefits, loans, insurance claims,etc. Liaise with the local authorityGrants Department, SocialServices, the Benefits Agency andother relevant agencies asrequired. Help you select a reliable builder. Provide help and support whilstwork is in progress so that you arekept informed.We aim to help older people and people with adisability by providing free advice and practicalassistance with regard to repairs, renovationsand adaptations to their homes, so they can liveindependently in comfort and security. Ensure that you are satisfied withthe work before payment is madeto the builder. Help organise removal totemporary accommodation whilstwork is carried out if required. Advise about welfare benefits tomake sure you are receiving yourfull entitlement. If repairs/adaptations are not thesolution, we can put you in touchwith other organisations who maybe able to help.WrexhamCare and RepairThe Handy PersonSchemeThe Handy Person Service isavailable to people over 60and/or people with a disability.We will carry out a wide varietyof small repairs such as: General joinery works Minor plumbing repairs Replacing a broken window Fitting a safety chain or lock Draught proofing a door Fitting lever taps etc. Repairs to gates and fencingThis is not an exhaustive list.Please contact the office forfurther information.Unfortunately, the followingworks cannot be considered: Any work involving the gasservice Any electrical work otherthan that of a minor nature(such as changing a fuse ora plug) Gardening Painting and decoratingThe Handy Person Service isprovided free of charge on theunderstanding that you will payfor the cost of any materialsused, although donations will begratefully accepted. In someinstances, funding may beavailable to cover the cost ofmaterials. Please contactWrexham Care and Repair forfurther information.