Alterations and improvements leaflet - East Ayrshire Council

Alterations & Improvements_Layout 1 19/05/2011 14:27 Page 3What if I am refused permission?You have the right to appeal in writing to the Divisional Manager, and we will replywithin 28 days.Examples of Improvements and Alterations:• Forming car run-ins and driveways• Erecting a garage or car port• Erecting a garden hut or greenhouse• Installing a new kitchen or bathroom• Installing or replacing central heating• Removing internal walls• Erecting a TV aerial or satellite dish• Replacing internal doors, architraves and skirting boards• Replacing external doors and windows• External decoration of the property• Installing or replacing pathways• Applying artex to ceilings or walls3

Alterations & Improvements_Layout 1 19/05/2011 14:27 Page 4What is the right to compensation for improvements?Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish Secure Tenants and ShortScottish Secure Tenants may be able to receive compensation from their landlordfor improvements which they have made to their home on or after 30 September2002. For you to qualify for this compensation:• East Ayrshire Council must have approved the improvement; and• Your tenancy must have ended.You can apply for compensation when you know your tenancy is coming to anend. We recommend you let us know about this as early as possible. You can alsoapply if your tenancy comes to an end because your house or flat is beingtransferred to a new landlord.If you were a secure tenant and carried out improvements to your home before 30September 2002, you will continue to have rights to compensation under the oldscheme. Ask your Neighbourhood Housing Office about this.Who gets compensation?As East Ayrshire Council tenants you may be able to get compensation for anyapproved improvements to your house or flat.If the tenancy ends because the tenant has died, or in other special circumstances,compensation can still be claimed. If you have succeeded to your tenancy (taken it overfrom a tenant who has died), we will be able to tell you if you qualify for compensation.You will not receive compensation if you buy your house or flat under the Right toBuy scheme. And you will not receive compensation if you are being given a newtenancy for your existing home with us.Do I need permission to make improvements?You must get written permission from us before you make any improvements. If werefuse permission, you have the right of appeal to the Sheriff Court. But rememberthat you can only receive compensation if we have agreed to the improvements.4

Alterations & Improvements_Layout 1 19/05/2011 14:27 Page 5What kind of improvements can I get compensation for?You can only get compensation for certain improvements which were started on orafter 30 September 2002. These include installing, replacing or fitting:• a bath or shower;• cavity wall insulation;• sound insulation;• double glazing, replacing external windows or fitting secondary glazing;• draught-proofing external doors or windows;• pipes, water tanks or cylinders;• a kitchen sink;• loft insulation;• rewiring, providing power or lighting, or adding other electrical fixtures(including smoke detectors);• security measures other than burglar alarms;• space or water heating;• storage cupboards in a bathroom or kitchen;• thermostatic radiator valves;• a wash-hand basin;• a toilet;• a work surface for preparing food; and• mechanical ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens.Decorating the inside of your home does not qualify for compensation.5

Alterations & Improvements_Layout 1 19/05/2011 14:27 Page 6How do I get compensation?You must make a claim in writing to East Ayrshire Council within the periodstarting 28 days before and ending 21 days after your tenancy comes to an end.If in doubt, ask your Neighbourhood Housing Office how to make a claim.We will need to know:• your name and address;• what improvements you have made;• how much each improvement cost; and• The date the improvements were started and finished.• We will also want to inspect all the improvements.How much can I get?You can receive up to £4,000 for each improvement. But you will not receive anycompensation for an improvement if the amount of compensation would be lessthan £100.How does East Ayrshire Council workout my compensation?We will start with the cost of the improvements and may ask you to provide proofof the amount you have spent. It is a good idea to keep a copy of any bills in asafe place and you may want to send a copy to us when the work has been done.If you had financial help such as a grant to help make your improvements,East Ayrshire Council will take the amount of this grant from the cost of yourimprovements.The value of any improvement you have made falls as the improvement gets olderand as you get use out of it. The compensation you get will take the age of yourimprovement into account.We may also reduce your compensation if we believe you paid too much for theimprovement or the quality is higher than it would have been if we or one of ourcontractors had done it.We may also increase or reduce your compensation depending on the condition ofthe improvement when your tenancy ends.We can also take any money you owe from the compensation you are entitled to(for example, for unpaid rent).6

Alterations & Improvements_Layout 1 19/05/2011 14:27 Page 7What can I claim compensation for?You can claim compensation for:• the cost of materials (but not appliances such as cookers or fridges); and• labour costs (but not your own labour).You will usually need to give East Ayrshire Council an invoice to show how muchyour improvements cost. If you have not got an invoice, tell East Ayrshire Councilstraight away and give them a rough idea of the total cost.What if I don’t agree with East Ayrshire Council’sdecision on my claim?You can ask us to reconsider the decision within 28 days of giving it to you.We must then have our decision reviewed by:• an independent valuer or surveyor of our choice;• any of our members, committee members or board members who were notinvolved in making the original decision; or• all of our members, committee members or board members.How can I find out more?Please contact:Scottish GovernmentHousing Markets & Supply DivisionArea 1H South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQPhone: 0131 244 5401E-mail: housing.information@scotland.gsi.gov.ukwww.scotland.gov.uk7

Alterations & Improvements_Layout 1 19/05/2011 14:27 Page 8This document is also available, on request, in Braille, large print or recorded onto tape, and can be translated into your language on request.Ma tha sibh airson fiosrachadh fhaighinn ann an cànan sam bith eile, cuiribhbrath thugainnaig an t-seòladh a leanas.Dokument dost pny jest równie w alfabecie Braille’a, w wersji z powi kszonymdrukiem lub w formie nagrania d wi kowego na kasecie. Na yczenie oferujemytak e tłumaczenie dokumentu na wybrany j zyk.Designed and produced by East Ayrshire Council Design Section © 2011Neighbourhood Housing Offices are based at the following locations:25 Ayr Road, Cumnock Tel: 01563 555428 / 951 Academy Street, Hurlford Tel: 01563 554650John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock Tel: 01563 576618Northwest Area Centre, Western Road, Kilmarnock Tel: 01563 555670E-mail: housing@east-ayrshire.gov.ukHousing Asset ServicesBurnside Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 4EX Tel: 01563 555555E-mail: Housing@east-ayrshire.gov.uk