Bexley and Government Grants
Below are details of Bexley and Government grants and schemes for home improvements, adaptations and to improve energy efficiency.
Bexley Schemes
- Home Repair Grant
- Loan Scheme
- Houseproud
- Disabled Facilities Grants
- Home Adaptations Grant
- Self-Help Scheme
- Home Security Grants
- Age Concern Bexley Handy Person Service
- Coldbusters
- Warm and Wise
Government Schemes
- Warmfront
Bexley Schemes
1. Home Repair Grant
These are grants available to carry out urgent repairs to properties. To qualify for assistance the applicant must;
- Be aged 18 or over on the date of application
- Be an owner-occupier or private tenant, or a person who occupies the dwelling under right of exclusive occupation granted for his life or for a period of more than five years
- Reach a score of over 30 points based on the following scoring system. The score to be achieved may be varied at the discretion of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Education & Community Services in exceptional circumstances and based on the demand and the resources available.
Condition of House - (Points) |
1. Urgent Health and Safety (20)
- Boiler not working (no hot water)
- Timber and damp problem affecting whole property
- Outside WC
- Unsuitable location of bath/wash hand basin
- Very dangerous electrical installation
- Inadequate cold water supply
- Structural instability with immediate risk of collapse
- Property uninhabitable due to fire, flood or other major problem
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2. Major Repairs requiring immediate action (10)
- Repairs (inc windows) allowing substantial water penetration
- Rewire
- New roof
- Timber and dampness problems affecting part of property
- Major structural defects
- Other repairs (not included above) costing more than £5,000
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3. Major repairs that are not urgent (5) |
Other Factors |
Income
- In receipt of an income related benefit (10)
- Income up to £200 per week (5)
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Age of applicant
- Over 75 (10)
- 60-70 (5)
- children under 4 years (5)
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Medical condition
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The grant limit is £3,000 on any one application and only one application can be made in any two-year period.
To find out about access to these grants contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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2. Loan Scheme
(i) Owner-occupiers
An interest free loan is available to vulnerable homeowners to bring homes to a decent standard.
To qualify people need to be living on a means tested benefit and have at least one member of their household aged over 60 or disabled or with a long-term illness.
Eligible benefits:
- Income support or income based job seekers allowance
- Council Benefit (not single person allowance)
- Pension credit
- Housing benefit
- Working or child tax credit (if earning less than £15,000)
- Households with low income up to £200 per week
A decent home is basically one that is watertight, warm and has modern facilities.
Staying Put will provide an agency service to the client to help them fill in forms, obtain required proofs and arrange and supervise the work.
To find out about access to the scheme contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
(ii) Empty Properties and Landlord Loans
A loan available to owners of empty property and to landlords to bring the property to the decent homes standard. A decent home is basically one that is watertight, warm and has modern facilities.
It is a condition of the loan that the owner agrees to lease the property to Bexley Council. The loan is then repaid by having a rent-free period equal to the amount spent by Bexley on refurbishment.
This scheme is provided directly by Bexley Council Environmental Health Section, contact the Home and Environment Team on 202 8303 7777 and ask for option two.
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3. Houseproud
This is a loan scheme available from the Home Improvement Trust for repair, improvement or adaptation of a person’s home.
To qualify people need to be:
- Homeowners Aged 60 and over; or
- Homeowners where the household includes a disabled person of any age
There are three main types of loan:
- Capital release
- Interest only payments
- Capital and interest repayment
All loans attract interest, in the case of capital release this is added to the sum borrowed and is repayable on disposal of the property. The loan amount ranges from £3,000 up to 30% of the value of the property. There is an absolute guarantee of no repossession while the applicants are living at the property.
Staying Put will help people access these loans and will determine what works are necessary and arrange builders to carry out the work.
The Home Improvement Trust provides independent financial advice.
To find out about access to the scheme contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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4. Disabled Facilities Grants
A grant provided to adapt properties for people with disabilities. The adaptations have to be considered necessary and appropriate to meet a person’s disability need and be reasonable and practicable.
Assessment of disability need is made by an Occupational Therapist from the Primary Care Trust; works can include large ramps, provision of level access showers and extensions to provide ground floor facilities where necessary.
This grant is means tested in accordance with a set of criteria prescribed by central government. The means test determines whether the person can afford to make a contribution towards the cost of works; if this notional contribution exceeds the cost of works no grant will be awarded. People on income support or income based job seekers allowance will automatically qualify for a full grant.
To access these grants contact: Bexley Council screeners: 020 8303 7777 ext.6363.
If you need help please contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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5. Home Adaptations Grant
A grant provided to carry out minor adaptations at properties. Initial assessment is made by Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Assistant; works can include over bath showers, stair lifts, grab rails, small ramps and other minor works.
To qualify for a grant the applicant must:
- Be aged 18 or over on the date of application
- Be an owner-occupier or tenant
- Be disabled or infirm (i.e. frail or suffering form along-term illness)
- Be on an income related benefit or qualify under Social Services financial assessment
Parents on income related benefits can apply for adaptations needed for their children.
To access these grants contact: Bexley Council screeners: 020 8303 7777 ext.6363
If you need help please contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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6. Self-Help Scheme
A scheme to help vulnerable owner occupiers who have the financial resources to carry out repairs but are put off because they are unable to find a builder they can trust or because they don’t know what repairs actually need doing.
Staying Put will help this client group identify the repairs required, find and engage a builder and will supervise the works.
To find out about access to the scheme contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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7. Home Security Grants
Grants are awarded to provide home security measures for people who are victims of crime or who live in fear of crime.
Grants are to provide basic improvements in home security and safety such as spy-holes, window locks, improvement in locks to doors, door chains, etc.
Contact, Victim Support on 020 8303 1248. If you need help please contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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8. Age Concern Bexley Handy Person Service
'Age Concern Bexley co-ordinate a team of volunteers who carry out minor maintenance works and repair for older people.
Work includes; fitting smoke alarms, fitting curtain tracks, taking down and putting up curtains, fitting door chains and spy holes, draught exclusion, fitting shelves, mirrors and pictures, simple furniture repairs, fitting small hand rails, changing light bulbs, fuses and tap washers.
Eligibility is for people over 60 with no friends or relatives who are able to help. Time and work is free for essential jobs such as light bulb replacement and the fitting and repairing of smoke alarms, otherwise there is a flat rate charge of £5 per visit. The cost of materials also needs to be met by the person receiving the service.
Contact them on 020 8300 0883. Age Concern is at Grassington Road, Sidcup. Opening hours are 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm weekdays.
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9. Coldbusters
A grant scheme to provide improvements to heating and insulation.
To be eligible people need to be;
private tenants or owner-occupiers and be on an income related benefit;
- Income support or income based job seekers allowance
- Council Tax Benefit
- Pension Credit
- Housing benefit
- Working or Child Tax Credit (if earning less than £15,000 per year)
Grants are delivered by on behalf of Bexley Council by CEN, contact 0800 358 6668.
If you need help making your application please contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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10. Warm and Wise
A scheme to provide discounted heating and insulation measures to improve energy efficiency. Discounts are for energy efficient boilers, heating controls and loft and cavity wall insulation.
Contact 020 8683 6622.
If you need help making your application please contact CPT Staying Put (contact details are at the top of the page on the left).
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Government Schemes
1. Warmfront
A government grant scheme to improve the energy efficiency of homes for people in receipt of income or disability related benefits.
The basic grant is £1,500 with an enhanced grant of £2,500 for people aged over 60.
For more information on the Warmfront scheme visit  www.direct.gov.uk
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