Housing Assistance Policy

The Housing Acts and resulting orders gives councils the power to provide assistance for the purpose of improving living conditions in the area. This power covers:-

• adapting or improving living accommodation
• repairing living accommodation

Assistance can be financial and through advice. The opportunity will be taken to secure funds to support the council in delivering housing assistance. This includes government grants, national funding schemes and local arrangements through eg Supporting People.

Any financial assistance that the council can offer for improving or adapting homes will have to meet relevant eligibility criteria and will ultimately be based on the availability of funding, the allocation of which the council has the final decision on.

Any grant monies repaid to the council, will be reinvested in the private sector housing capital programme to provide further assistance. Land charges may be imposed where relevant.