Agenda item

RESOLVED

 

KEY DECISION

 

That the Executive approved the proposals detailed within the report at a) - m) to be incorporated into North Northamptonshire Council’s revised Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy:

 

 

Proposal 1: Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up)

 

The current maximum Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant is £30,000. The current maximum Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (Top-Up) is £10,000.                                                                                                                 

 

It is recommended that the Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up) is increased from £10,000 to £20,000.

 

Reasons for recommendation -                                                                                                                          This proposal will:

·       Provide extra funding for those cases that have increased labour and materials costs.

·       Provide extra funding for those complex cases with extensive scope of works.

·       Reduce Officer time of involvement (Surveyor and OT) and reduce MP complaints by frustrated applicants.

·       Reduce timescales required from start to project completion.

 

Alternative recommendation considered: According to Foundations (The National Body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies in England), the Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (Top-Up) should be £30,000. This figure has been considered and assessed against data based on research on various recently published Housing Assistance Policies from several Councils, including Unitary Authorities from various geographical areas - excluding London Boroughs - with similar or lower Annual Disabled Facilities Grants Funding Allocations for 2023/2024 – in addition to the £30,000 mandatory grant funding. The proposal of £20,000 is in line with the figure implemented by other Unitary Councils and it is proposed that this will be annually reviewed and always subject to funding availability.

 

 

Proposal 2: Means Test Equipment

 

According to the current policy, all DFG works are means tested, excluding children’s applications and applicants with passporting benefits.   

 

It is recommended that there be no means test for equipment cases (installation of a stair-lift, or a ceiling track hoist (CTH), not associated with any other DFG funded building works), up to a maximum cost of £10,000 is introduced.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation -    

                                                                                                              

This proposal will:

·       Reduce Officer time (approx. 45 minutes - 1 ½ hours) and benefit the applicant.

·       Assist the applicant by removing the requirement for paperwork/evidence submission (bank statements etc.).

·       Reduce timescales required from start to project completion (4-8 weeks).

 

Alternative recommendation considered – At EAP, members suggested that the original figure of £8,000 is increased to £10,000. When the initial figure to be put forward (£8,000) was considered, this was on the basis that a curved stair-lift or an H-shaped ceiling track hoist (which are the most expensive types of equipment included in this proposal) can be fully covered. It has since been reconsidered and the revised proposal for this is £10,000.

 

                                               

Proposal 3: Means Test (Discretionary Top up - Children’s cases)         

 

The current policy does not allow for all means tested applicants with a confirmed client’s contribution to be eligible for a Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up). Applicants with passporting benefits and children’s applications are eligible for a Discretionary DFG (Top-Up), as the parents are not means tested.            

 

This proposal is no longer going forward, i.e. to means test parents for children’s applications with regards to the Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up) only, so it is now disregarded.

 

 

Proposal 4: Land Charges

 

The current policy stipulates for the following land charges to apply:

 

·       Mandatory £30K grant: Maximum land charge £10,000 (from £5,000K to £15,000)

·       Same terms apply on the Discretionary Grant of £10,000: Maximum land charge £5,000.

 

The two grants are treated as separate awards with a total maximum land charge of £15,000 (£10,000 on mandatory and £5,000 on discretionary)

No land charge on tenant’s applications (private Landlords or Housing Associations)

 

It is recommended that Executive approve the following:

No land charge placed on Through Floor Lift (TFL) cases, including enabling works.

No land charge placed on stair-lifts.

No land charge placed for any amount below £200.

No land charged placed for a child applicant on long-term foster   placement.

Land charge waived due to financial hardship and/or if moving properties is to receive care from others.

 

Reasons for recommendation   -

                                                                              

It is recommended that land charges do not apply on the above works because they do not add financial value to the property and/or the proposals are reasonable.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –  

                                        

At EAP, members felt that the amount of £200 – mentioned under item 3 above – was too low to justify the expense of registering a land charge. It was suggested that a higher amount of £1,000 could be considered.

 

 

Proposal 5: Fast Track Adaptations

 

Under the current policy, there is a single North Northamptonshire Waiting List for DFGs. The cases are prioritised based on the priority grading system set by the Occupational Therapist (OT) - standard, urgent or critical - and the date on the OT recommendation.

       

It is recommended that a “Fast Tracking” process is introduced, outside of the OT priority grading system mentioned above, to assist with hospital discharge cases, terminally ill applicants and palliative care.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation -

                                                                                          

Bureaucracy will be minimised where possible and alternative equipment / construction solutions will be explored.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –                                                       

 

At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made no further recommendations. 

 

 

Proposal 6: Dementia Grants

 

Dementia Grants are not covered by the current policy.                                            

 

It is proposed that these grants are based on the initial dementia diagnosis and prior to the disease escalating to the stage when major DFG adaptations are recommended. The following adaptations would be covered:

·       Safer flooring.

·       Labels and signs on doors and cupboards.

·       Contrasting colour decorations between walls and floors.

·       Installation of contrasting coloured fixtures such as grab rails and toilet seats.

·       Task focused lighting in bathrooms and kitchens.

·       Assistive technology for monitoring activity or to inform if it is day or night.

 

It is recommended that the dementia grants are covered by the policy as proposed above with works with a cost value of over £1000. Note that any works below this amount can be covered by the Minor Adaptations budget held by Community Occupational Therapy.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation

 

This proposal will:

Postpone or eliminate the need for more costly adaptations, re-housing, social care due to its preventative nature. 

Promote independent and safe living.

 

Alternative recommendation considered - At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made no further recommendations.

 

                                            

Proposal 7: Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Grants

 

Motor Neurone Disease Grants are not covered by the current policy. Applicants with an early MND diagnosis can continue and will choose to carry on working until no longer able to work. Applying for a DFG at this stage will most likely deem them as non-eligible for the grant through the means testing process due to their earnings.

 

It is recommended to introduce this grant on the basis of disregarding their earnings. This will ensure the adaptations can be in place for when they no longer work and are unable to manage daily activities.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation

 

This proposal will:

·       Provide a fast-track process.

·       Ensure no means test is carried out for cost of works up to £5K.

·       Ignore the applicant’s earnings when means testing is carried out at an early stage.

·       Enable major adaptations before the disease escalates rapidly.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –                                                       

At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made no further recommendations.

 

 

Proposal 8: Independent Panel

 

The current policy, subject to eligibility, allows for applicants to be entitled to a £30,000 mandatory grant and a £10,000 discretionary grant. If the cost of work exceeds the maximum £40,000 grant, the applicant is required to meet the shortfall, or the works cannot progress.        

 

It is recommended for the introduction of an independent member/officer Panel to review cases on an ad-hoc basis, understand needs and approve further discretionary grants to meet the cost difference over the approved mandatory and discretionary limits, subject to evidence that the applicant is unable to raise the necessary funds themselves.

 

Reasons for recommendation -

 

This proposal will:

·       Enable major adaptations to proceed.

·       Potentially provide some savings on Adult Social Care budgets as residents remain in their homes.

·       Eliminate cases being put on hold until a resolution to the financial shortfall is found.

·       Prevent time consuming conversations on alternative solutions.

·       Ensure adaptations are completed for the benefit of the applicant.

 

This recommendation needs to be formalised by including it in the revised policy. At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and agreed that there will be no need for a monthly set date for the panel members to meet. Instead, these meetings will be called on an ad-hoc basis, and the conversations/decisions can be made over Teams.

 

Alternative recommendation considered – The current arrangement of exceptional approval via the Assistant Director for Regulatory Services and Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up has been informally in place for a while and to maintain this status quo could be considered as an alternative to the proposed Independent Panel.

 

 

Proposal 9: Equipment Maintenance

 

The current policy stipulates that all equipment is covered by the standard 12-month warranty offered by the supplier. After completion of the work, any ongoing maintenance, servicing, repairs, or warranties are the responsibility of the grant recipient. The grant recipient can request a quote for extending the manufacturer’s warranty (normally up to 5 years) and purchase this service at their own cost. 

 

It is recommended that all extended warranties are covered by the grant for all equipment for 5 years. Additionally, it is proposed that the grant covers the call out fees, if contacted by the applicant, including any repairs up to £500.

 

Reasons for recommendation -

 

This proposal will:                                                                                            

·       Provide a better service.

·       Assist old applicants with broken equipment up to value of £500.

·       Reduce the need for an OT recommendation for new equipment, which will be a saving to the DFG budget.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –   

At EAP, members were keen to ensure the clients’ statutory rights are safeguarded. Consideration will be, therefore, given in training the Council’s relevant Officers on consumer rights. This training would enable the Council to provide the necessary advice to the applicants.

         

 

Proposal 10: Private Landlords (LL) and Housing Associations (HA)

 

The current policy does not allow for any special provisions for private or social housing tenants. The same DFG eligibility criteria and conditions apply to tenants as owner / occupiers.   

 

It is recommended that the policy will allow to expediate the grant application process for private and social tenants, if: the private LL or HA make the application and manage the works, including provision of drawings / specification for Council’s approval and / or carrying out the works.

 

Reasons for recommendation -                                                 

 

This proposal will:                                                                                                                                                                        

·       Provide a positive change for tenants – shorter waiting times.

·       Assist with Officer time being able to be spent on other cases.

·       Support landlords to make their portfolios more accessible for current and future disabled tenants.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –                                                      

 At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made

no further recommendations.

 

 

Proposal 11: Non-mandatory works

 

The current policy makes no special provisions for non-mandatory DFG works not covered by the legislation e.g. safe play space and/or play equipment, sensory space, or study space. There are several variables to set a fixed policy on awards for non-mandatory works.

 

It is recommended that the following changes are approved with respect to non-mandatory work:

 

All proposed non-mandatory work will be reviewed between the Lead Officer for DFGs, Surveyor, OT, carers, special support, GP etc. before confirming them as reasonable, practicable and required by the applicant.

All non-mandatory work up to an estimated cost value of £1,000 will be approved by the Disabled Facilities Grants Manager.

All non-mandatory work, of a more extensive design proposal, will be subject to a feasibility visit by a surveyor to identify the estimated cost of works. If in excess of £1,000 and subject to the approval in principle by the Disabled Facilities Grants Manager, the case will be reviewed by the Independent Panel before approval or rejection can be confirmed.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation -

 

To assist more people, even those not necessarily covered by the legislation.

 

Alternative recommendation considered -

At EAP, members wished to know whether the above proposal will affect different groups of people differently, and if social housing tenants or leaseholders for flats or communal areas would be excluded. This proposal will apply to all groups of people deemed as eligible for a DFG in line with the relevant legislation. It is confirmed that the following applies:

Leaseholders are eligible for DFGs, provided they meet the grant's criteria related to disability and income assessment.

The remaining lease term is not less than a period of five years.

Communal areas are included, subject to receipt of the owner’s permission.

 

 

Proposal 12: Unchanged Policy: HomeMove Grants

 

It is recommended that there is no change to the following grant conditions:

To fund more cost-effective alternatives to providing a mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant.

Maximum grant £6,000.

Cost of adaptations (maximum £5,000).

Relocation costs (maximum £1,000).

 

Alternative recommendation considered – At EAP, members questioned whether the cost of moving properties has risen due to inflation and whether £6,000 is still adequate assistance. The following has since been determined:

A person who lives in England or Wales and is in receipt of Housing Benefits, could apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to help with moving costs. 

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Moving House Grant amounts vary based on an individual's circumstances and are generally intended to cover moving-related costs like removal charges, rent deposits, and related expenses. The maximum grant available is £5,000 but could be as low as £500.

Given that the Government provides this £5,000 for eligible residents, it has been deemed unnecessary to increase the Council’s HomeMove grant.

 

 

Proposal 13: Other Policies: Home Repair Grant  

 

It is recommended that all grants included in the current policy, namely Renovation Grants (maximum grant £10,000), Landlord Renovation Grants (maximum grant £10,000) and Home Repair Assistance Grants (maximum grant £5,000) are replaced with one Home Repair Grant.

 

This grant will offer a maximum £15,000 assistance to eligible owner-occupied residents, on a means tested benefit and/or low income. This grant aims to prevent Category 1 hazards in the property, address safety improvements, electrical works, thermal insulation, affordable warmth, energy efficiency or lack of a heating system.

The Chair invited the Executive Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Mark Rowley to introduce a report that sought approval of a suite of recommendations to be included in a revised Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy. These recommendations proposed to increase the amount and type of discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) assistance the Council could offer residents of North Northamptonshire with an aim to improve the health and well-being of disabled people and help them to live safely and independently in their homes for longer.

 

Cllr Rowley noted that the proposals had undergone significant consideration by both the Place and Economy Scrutiny Committee and Prosperous Communities Executive Advisory Panel as well as stakeholder consultation. A summary of the policy recommendations was provided to the meeting.

 

The Chair welcomed the report, the proposals of which would help benefit North Northamptonshire’s most vulnerable residents by fast tracking applications for equipment to help them live their lives.

 

Cllr Gill Mercer spoke to welcome the work and level of detail that had gone into production of the policy before members, noting the benefits and importance of keeping residents in their own homes for as long as possible.

 

Cllr Scott Edwards also spoke welcome the report, with specific reference to the removal of means testing for children’s equipment and no land charges associated with grants for those involved in long-term fostering.

 

Cllr Matt Binley thanked officers for their hard work, noting that the proposals broadened the spectrum of people that could receive assistance and added additional governance to offer reassurance to residents.

 

Cllr David Brackenbury spoke to welcome the report and commended the hard work of officers in making thoughtful changes to the policy.

 

Cllr Rowley concluded debate by thanking all those involved in producing the policy, noting that the proposed offer was significantly beyond statutory requirements and would increase the number of residents eligible for assistance.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

KEY DECISION

 

That the Executive approved the proposals detailed within the report at a) - m) to be incorporated into North Northamptonshire Council’s revised Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy:

 

 

Proposal 1: Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up)

 

The current maximum Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant is £30,000. The current maximum Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (Top-Up) is £10,000.                                                                                                                 

 

It is recommended that the Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up) is increased from £10,000 to £20,000.

 

Reasons for recommendation -                                                                                                                          This proposal will:

·       Provide extra funding for those cases that have increased labour and materials costs.

·       Provide extra funding for those complex cases with extensive scope of works.

·       Reduce Officer time of involvement (Surveyor and OT) and reduce MP complaints by frustrated applicants.

·       Reduce timescales required from start to project completion.

 

Alternative recommendation considered: According to Foundations (The National Body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies in England), the Discretionary Disabled Facilities Grant (Top-Up) should be £30,000. This figure has been considered and assessed against data based on research on various recently published Housing Assistance Policies from several Councils, including Unitary Authorities from various geographical areas - excluding London Boroughs - with similar or lower Annual Disabled Facilities Grants Funding Allocations for 2023/2024 – in addition to the £30,000 mandatory grant funding. The proposal of £20,000 is in line with the figure implemented by other Unitary Councils and it is proposed that this will be annually reviewed and always subject to funding availability.

 

 

Proposal 2: Means Test Equipment

 

According to the current policy, all DFG works are means tested, excluding children’s applications and applicants with passporting benefits.   

 

It is recommended that there be no means test for equipment cases (installation of a stair-lift, or a ceiling track hoist (CTH), not associated with any other DFG funded building works), up to a maximum cost of £10,000 is introduced.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation -    

                                                                                                              

This proposal will:

·       Reduce Officer time (approx. 45 minutes - 1 ½ hours) and benefit the applicant.

·       Assist the applicant by removing the requirement for paperwork/evidence submission (bank statements etc.).

·       Reduce timescales required from start to project completion (4-8 weeks).

 

Alternative recommendation considered – At EAP, members suggested that the original figure of £8,000 is increased to £10,000. When the initial figure to be put forward (£8,000) was considered, this was on the basis that a curved stair-lift or an H-shaped ceiling track hoist (which are the most expensive types of equipment included in this proposal) can be fully covered. It has since been reconsidered and the revised proposal for this is £10,000.

 

                                               

Proposal 3: Means Test (Discretionary Top up - Children’s cases)         

 

The current policy does not allow for all means tested applicants with a confirmed client’s contribution to be eligible for a Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up). Applicants with passporting benefits and children’s applications are eligible for a Discretionary DFG (Top-Up), as the parents are not means tested.            

 

This proposal is no longer going forward, i.e. to means test parents for children’s applications with regards to the Discretionary DFG Grant (Top-Up) only, so it is now disregarded.

 

 

Proposal 4: Land Charges

 

The current policy stipulates for the following land charges to apply:

 

·       Mandatory £30K grant: Maximum land charge £10,000 (from £5,000K to £15,000)

·       Same terms apply on the Discretionary Grant of £10,000: Maximum land charge £5,000.

 

The two grants are treated as separate awards with a total maximum land charge of £15,000 (£10,000 on mandatory and £5,000 on discretionary)

No land charge on tenant’s applications (private Landlords or Housing Associations)

 

It is recommended that Executive approve the following:

No land charge placed on Through Floor Lift (TFL) cases, including enabling works.

No land charge placed on stair-lifts.

No land charge placed for any amount below £200.

No land charged placed for a child applicant on long-term foster   placement.

Land charge waived due to financial hardship and/or if moving properties is to receive care from others.

 

Reasons for recommendation   -

                                                                              

It is recommended that land charges do not apply on the above works because they do not add financial value to the property and/or the proposals are reasonable.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –  

                                        

At EAP, members felt that the amount of £200 – mentioned under item 3 above – was too low to justify the expense of registering a land charge. It was suggested that a higher amount of £1,000 could be considered.

 

 

Proposal 5: Fast Track Adaptations

 

Under the current policy, there is a single North Northamptonshire Waiting List for DFGs. The cases are prioritised based on the priority grading system set by the Occupational Therapist (OT) - standard, urgent or critical - and the date on the OT recommendation.

       

It is recommended that a “Fast Tracking” process is introduced, outside of the OT priority grading system mentioned above, to assist with hospital discharge cases, terminally ill applicants and palliative care.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation -

                                                                                          

Bureaucracy will be minimised where possible and alternative equipment / construction solutions will be explored.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –                                                       

 

At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made no further recommendations. 

 

 

Proposal 6: Dementia Grants

 

Dementia Grants are not covered by the current policy.                                            

 

It is proposed that these grants are based on the initial dementia diagnosis and prior to the disease escalating to the stage when major DFG adaptations are recommended. The following adaptations would be covered:

·       Safer flooring.

·       Labels and signs on doors and cupboards.

·       Contrasting colour decorations between walls and floors.

·       Installation of contrasting coloured fixtures such as grab rails and toilet seats.

·       Task focused lighting in bathrooms and kitchens.

·       Assistive technology for monitoring activity or to inform if it is day or night.

 

It is recommended that the dementia grants are covered by the policy as proposed above with works with a cost value of over £1000. Note that any works below this amount can be covered by the Minor Adaptations budget held by Community Occupational Therapy.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation

 

This proposal will:

Postpone or eliminate the need for more costly adaptations, re-housing, social care due to its preventative nature. 

Promote independent and safe living.

 

Alternative recommendation considered - At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made no further recommendations.

 

                                            

Proposal 7: Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Grants

 

Motor Neurone Disease Grants are not covered by the current policy. Applicants with an early MND diagnosis can continue and will choose to carry on working until no longer able to work. Applying for a DFG at this stage will most likely deem them as non-eligible for the grant through the means testing process due to their earnings.

 

It is recommended to introduce this grant on the basis of disregarding their earnings. This will ensure the adaptations can be in place for when they no longer work and are unable to manage daily activities.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation

 

This proposal will:

·       Provide a fast-track process.

·       Ensure no means test is carried out for cost of works up to £5K.

·       Ignore the applicant’s earnings when means testing is carried out at an early stage.

·       Enable major adaptations before the disease escalates rapidly.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –                                                       

At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made no further recommendations.

 

 

Proposal 8: Independent Panel

 

The current policy, subject to eligibility, allows for applicants to be entitled to a £30,000 mandatory grant and a £10,000 discretionary grant. If the cost of work exceeds the maximum £40,000 grant, the applicant is required to meet the shortfall, or the works cannot progress.        

 

It is recommended for the introduction of an independent member/officer Panel to review cases on an ad-hoc basis, understand needs and approve further discretionary grants to meet the cost difference over the approved mandatory and discretionary limits, subject to evidence that the applicant is unable to raise the necessary funds themselves.

 

Reasons for recommendation -

 

This proposal will:

·       Enable major adaptations to proceed.

·       Potentially provide some savings on Adult Social Care budgets as residents remain in their homes.

·       Eliminate cases being put on hold until a resolution to the financial shortfall is found.

·       Prevent time consuming conversations on alternative solutions.

·       Ensure adaptations are completed for the benefit of the applicant.

 

This recommendation needs to be formalised by including it in the revised policy. At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and agreed that there will be no need for a monthly set date for the panel members to meet. Instead, these meetings will be called on an ad-hoc basis, and the conversations/decisions can be made over Teams.

 

Alternative recommendation considered – The current arrangement of exceptional approval via the Assistant Director for Regulatory Services and Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up has been informally in place for a while and to maintain this status quo could be considered as an alternative to the proposed Independent Panel.

 

 

Proposal 9: Equipment Maintenance

 

The current policy stipulates that all equipment is covered by the standard 12-month warranty offered by the supplier. After completion of the work, any ongoing maintenance, servicing, repairs, or warranties are the responsibility of the grant recipient. The grant recipient can request a quote for extending the manufacturer’s warranty (normally up to 5 years) and purchase this service at their own cost. 

 

It is recommended that all extended warranties are covered by the grant for all equipment for 5 years. Additionally, it is proposed that the grant covers the call out fees, if contacted by the applicant, including any repairs up to £500.

 

Reasons for recommendation -

 

This proposal will:                                                                                             

·       Provide a better service.

·       Assist old applicants with broken equipment up to value of £500.

·       Reduce the need for an OT recommendation for new equipment, which will be a saving to the DFG budget.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –   

At EAP, members were keen to ensure the clients’ statutory rights are safeguarded. Consideration will be, therefore, given in training the Council’s relevant Officers on consumer rights. This training would enable the Council to provide the necessary advice to the applicants.

         

 

Proposal 10: Private Landlords (LL) and Housing Associations (HA)

 

The current policy does not allow for any special provisions for private or social housing tenants. The same DFG eligibility criteria and conditions apply to tenants as owner / occupiers.   

 

It is recommended that the policy will allow to expediate the grant application process for private and social tenants, if: the private LL or HA make the application and manage the works, including provision of drawings / specification for Council’s approval and / or carrying out the works.

 

Reasons for recommendation -                                                 

 

This proposal will:                                                                                                                                                                        

·       Provide a positive change for tenants – shorter waiting times.

·       Assist with Officer time being able to be spent on other cases.

·       Support landlords to make their portfolios more accessible for current and future disabled tenants.

 

Alternative recommendation considered –                                                      

 At EAP, members were satisfied with the above proposal and made

no further recommendations.

 

 

Proposal 11: Non-mandatory works

 

The current policy makes no special provisions for non-mandatory DFG works not covered by the legislation e.g. safe play space and/or play equipment, sensory space, or study space. There are several variables to set a fixed policy on awards for non-mandatory works.

 

It is recommended that the following changes are approved with respect to non-mandatory work:

 

All proposed non-mandatory work will be reviewed between the Lead Officer for DFGs, Surveyor, OT, carers, special support, GP etc. before confirming them as reasonable, practicable and required by the applicant.

All non-mandatory work up to an estimated cost value of £1,000 will be approved by the Disabled Facilities Grants Manager.

All non-mandatory work, of a more extensive design proposal, will be subject to a feasibility visit by a surveyor to identify the estimated cost of works. If in excess of £1,000 and subject to the approval in principle by the Disabled Facilities Grants Manager, the case will be reviewed by the Independent Panel before approval or rejection can be confirmed.

 

 

Reasons for recommendation -

 

To assist more people, even those not necessarily covered by the legislation.

 

Alternative recommendation considered -

At EAP, members wished to know whether the above proposal will affect different groups of people differently, and if social housing tenants or leaseholders for flats or communal areas would be excluded. This proposal will apply to all groups of people deemed as eligible for a DFG in line with the relevant legislation. It is confirmed that the following applies:

Leaseholders are eligible for DFGs, provided they meet the grant's criteria related to disability and income assessment.

The remaining lease term is not less than a period of five years.

Communal areas are included, subject to receipt of the owner’s permission.

 

 

Proposal 12: Unchanged Policy: HomeMove Grants

 

It is recommended that there is no change to the following grant conditions:

To fund more cost-effective alternatives to providing a mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant.

Maximum grant £6,000.

Cost of adaptations (maximum £5,000).

Relocation costs (maximum £1,000).

 

Alternative recommendation considered – At EAP, members questioned whether the cost of moving properties has risen due to inflation and whether £6,000 is still adequate assistance. The following has since been determined:

A person who lives in England or Wales and is in receipt of Housing Benefits, could apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to help with moving costs. 

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Moving House Grant amounts vary based on an individual's circumstances and are generally intended to cover moving-related costs like removal charges, rent deposits, and related expenses. The maximum grant available is £5,000 but could be as low as £500.

Given that the Government provides this £5,000 for eligible residents, it has been deemed unnecessary to increase the Council’s HomeMove grant.

 

 

Proposal 13: Other Policies: Home Repair Grant  

 

It is recommended that all grants included in the current policy, namely Renovation Grants (maximum grant £10,000), Landlord Renovation Grants (maximum grant £10,000) and Home Repair Assistance Grants (maximum grant £5,000) are replaced with one Home Repair Grant.

 

This grant will offer a maximum £15,000 assistance to eligible owner-occupied residents, on a means tested benefit and/or low income. This grant aims to prevent Category 1 hazards in the property, address safety improvements, electrical works, thermal insulation, affordable warmth, energy efficiency or lack of a heating system.