There are a number of grants available to private sector housing tenants and owner-occupiers to help with things such as disability, home repairs and bringing empty homes back into use.

For full details on the range of grants available, please see the Private Sector Housing Grants Policy.

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs)

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) provide financial assistance for disabled people who need an adaptation to their home.  This includes tenants and people living in houseboats and caravans. 

If you or someone in your household is disabled, then grant may be available for adaptations that Social Care class as essential to give you better freedom of movement into and around your home and to access essential facilities within it. 

In cases where it is not possible to adapt your home through a DFG, a Relocation Grant could assist with the costs of moving to suitable accommodation. 

To self-refer for a care and support assessment, which will include consideration of home adaptations to meet your essential needs, please call Adult Social Care on (0116) 305 0004.

Home Repair Assistance and Home Safety Grants

Home Repair Grants are available to vulnerable qualifying households where there is a hazard in the home that puts the occupants or others at risk. For example dangerous electrical wiring or a dangerous structure.

Home Safety Grants are available to help low income, elderly, infirm or disabled residents to connect to a Community Alarm Service, or for the installation of appropriate home security or safety measures (which may include remedial works) where the applicant is deemed to be at risk. For example, connection to a community alarm service, the provision of assistive technology or remedial work to clear and clean a home that is impacting on the safety of the occupant.

If you are not eligible because you are not in receipt of the qualifying benefits, but feel you may be entitled to them, you should contact the Department for Work and Pensions at www.dwp.gov.uk.

Please contact the Private Sector Housing Team for further information.

Partnership Grants

Grant funding is available to bring empty homes back into use.  If you are the owner of a property that has been empty for six months or more and you would like assistance to bring that property back into use, then we would like to hear from you.

We are looking for owners of two bedroomed empty properties within the borough to apply for a Partnership Grant to fund renovation works and bring the property back into use.  The grant will cover 50% of the cost of the works up to a maximum of £15,000; in return the property must be made available for rent.

For more information, please contact the Private Sector Housing Team.

Private Sector Housing Grants Policy

Last updated: Tue 4th June, 2024 @ 08:55