Select an item from below
PUSH 4 Safer Homes
Housing repairs are an issue for all home owners and since the abolition of the Renovation Grant some years ago, Local Authorities have found various ways to help those who could not afford to keep their properties safe.
In 2004 Southampton City Council piloted their Home Improvement Grant which was effectively a small loan (up to £7,500 for the cost of works plus VAT and professional fees). The grant did not incur any interest and was repayable in the event of sale or transfer of the property. If, however, the property remained in continuous ownership for 25 years, the grant did not need to be repaid.
Under the umbrella of the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), seven of the partner local authorities bid for grant funding from the Regional Housing Board. They were successful and the spend started in April 2008.
PUSH 4 Safer Homes service request form
The 7 Local Authorities
Other partners include the Home Improvement Agency, the Landlords Associations and the Energy Advice Centre.
Each local authority predicted how many and how much they could distribute in loans and hence the financial distribution among the partners.
The full Partnership meets every three months whilst the Steering Group meets on a more frequent basis. In November 2008, the Partnership employed a Loans Development Co-ordinator to offer additional support and marketing.
The various products and their associated funds will be spent over a three year period and a Launch event is planned for January 2009.
Home Improvement Loan
The loan is interest free with no monthly repayments. The loan is registered at Her Majesty’s Land Registry and must be repaid when ownership of the property is transferred. The home owner must however continue to live in the property and continue to keep it in good repair, otherwise the loan must be repaid.
Each local authority can impose their own rules, thus the maximum loan values will differ. In some Councils the maximum cost of building works is £50,000, in others it is less. Other variables will be the use of Approved builders, Home Improvement Agencies, competitive tendering or Schedule of Rates and the level of household income for beneficiaries and which types of work qualify for loan assistance. 
Accessible Home Loan
Disabled Facilities Grants are mandatory, subject to appropriate advice from social services. For those local authority customers, who need these adaptations, they are essential to enable them to stay in their own homes safely. Sometimes a home needs to be repaired before an adaptation can be made and a Home Improvement Loan can be offered alongside the DFG. A test of resources is required for all grants, except those for children and sometimes this requires grant beneficiaries to pay a contribution. The maximum amount of the grant is £30,000.
If a customer needs work above the value of £30,000 or has a contribution which they cannot afford to pay, an Accessible Home Loan could help.
This loan works in the same way as the Home Improvement Loan. 
Landlord Loan
Empty properties are a wasted resource and in some cases an eye sore. Local authorities want to help landlords to repair these properties and rent them out. The partnership is developing a loan product to address this need and the first loan is being piloted in East Hants District Council.
Warmer Homes Grant
Energy efficiency is important in all local authorities where Government targets needs to be met. Warmfront is a grant which plays a major role in addressing this need. A Warmfront Grant is available to anyone in receipt of income support, guarantee pension credit, some disability benefits and beneficiaries over the age of 60. This Grant can pay for loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, central heating and other measures up to the value of £3,500. EAGA administer the scheme and organize the works.
The costs are on a Schedule of Rates basis and sometimes there are insufficient funds to undertake all the works, for example if the house is particularly large. Thus customers are sometimes required to make a contribution towards the cost of works. If they cannot afford to do this, Home Improvement Agencies may be able to help to find charitable funding. Under the Partnership, the Warmer Homes Grant is available to pay for this top up and EAGA have agreed to administer its distribution in a way which will cause minimum inconvenience to its customers.
Home Improvement Agencies
Home Improvement Agencies in Hampshire are funded by Local Authorities, Supporting People, Adult Services and Hampshire County Council.
Home Improvement Agencies help people to stay in their own homes if they want to. Their staff are aware of local services and will signpost to appropriate agencies for help with for example benefits or fire safety. They will undertake a risk assessment and offer advice on possible funding for repairs or adaptations which include the products on offer from the local authority. Caseworkers will provide the main point of contact, but Surveyors are available if required.
The Agencies will support customers through the grant/loan process, prepare the schedules, arrange the builders and help with any paperwork. They will also check the work on site and help to resolve any problems.
In touch provide the Home Improvement Agency service in Hampshire with their partners Community First.
Budgets for the next 3 Years
Local Authority |
Home Improvement Loan | Accessible Home Loan |
Warm Home Grant |
Landlord & Empty Home Loan |
| East Hants | £72,000 | £41,000 | £54,000 | £60,000 |
| Fareham | £141,000 | £40,000 | £28,000 | £56,000 |
| Havant | £98,000 | £24,000 | £48,000 | £16,000 |
| New Forest | £207,000 | £146,000 | £36,000 | £56,000 |
| Southampton | £5,755,000 | £759,000 | £267,000 | £284,000 |
| Test Valley | £427,000 | £93,000 | £28,000 | £64,000 |
| Winchester | £64,000 | £36,000 | £30,000 | £50,000 |
Contact
Free Phone: 0800 5191717
E-mail: housing.renewal@southampton.gov.uk