8. Who can apply and Details of Assistance

8.1 Housing Renewal Policy Framework

Made under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2003, and to be read in conjunction with Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council’s Housing Renewal Policy. The conditions will apply in all cases of financial assistance, unless specifically stated within the Housing Renewal Policy in force at the time.

8.2 Purpose of Housing Assistance

Housing assistance may be offered by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council ("the Council") in accordance with this policy towards the cost of –

1. the improvement, repair or adaptation of existing living

   accommodation including mobile homes and houseboats

2. the relocation to alternative living accommodation where the existing home is unsuitable for adaptation for a disabled occupant
3. initiatives which support the ambitions of the Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council Community Plan and subject to the policy in place at that time.

the assistance may be in any form including but not restricted to advice, grants, provision of materials, carrying out works, loans, loan guarantees.

The Council may specify in detail in the Housing Renewal Policy the

purposes for which applications for assistance is to be invited and may specify different purposes from time to time to reflect current priorities and budgetary constraints.

The Council will not normally offer assistance where the work involved could have been covered by the applicant’s property insurance.

8.3  Persons eligible to apply for Housing Assistance

Any person who makes an application for assistance must –

i)
be over 18 years of age at the date of the application, and

ii)
live in the dwelling as his only or main residence (except where the landlord is an applicant who intends to let the dwelling)

iii)
Have an owners interest in the dwelling (other than by virtue of being a Registered Social Landlord under Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996 or eligibility for such registration), or be a tenant or licensee of the dwelling, alone or jointly with others.

iv)
Have an actual or moral obligation to carry out the works in question and have the owner’s consent in writing to do so if necessary, and

v)
Satisfy such tests(s) of financial resources as the Council may impose from time to time, more specifically explained in the Housing Renewal Policy.

vi)
Not be ineligible by virtue of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 or regulations made under that Act.

8.4  Applications for Assistance

An application for assistance shall be in a form determined by the Council and shall include –

i)
full particulars including, where relevant, plans and specifications of the works for which the assistance is sought ("the assisted works");

ii)
at least two estimates from different contractors of the cost of carrying out the assisted works, unless the Council otherwise direct in any particular case. The contractors must be of a similar size and must not be either the applicant or a relative of the applicant.

iii)
particulars of any professional fees and other charges which relate to the preparation for and the carrying out of the assisted works;

iv)
proof that the applicant is an owner or a tenant of the dwelling

v)
consent in writing from all owners of the dwelling to the carrying-out of the assisted works

vi)
if the applicant is the owner of the dwelling(s), an undertaking to repay the grant in the circumstances described and later in the policy under ‘terms and conditions’.

vii)
if the applicant is a landlord, an undertaking to repay the grant or let the dwelling(s) in accordance with the policy in place at the time

8.5  Qualifying Factors

The Council may specify in their Housing Renewal Policy a period of time during which the applicant must have lived in the dwelling as his only or main residence prior to the date of application for assistance and may specify different periods for different purposes.

The Council will not consider an application for assistance in respect of premises constructed or converted less than 10 years from the date of application, except in the case of applicants for a disabled facilities grant.

8.6  Amount of Financial Assistance

The Council may specify in their Housing Renewal Policy a maximum amount or a formula for calculating the maximum amount of assistance, which may be paid in respect of an application for assistance and may specify different maxima for works of different descriptions.

8.7 Exclusion of works already carried out

The Council will not approve an application for assistance if the assisted works have been carried out before the application is approved, except

where the relevant works have been begun but have not been completed, the application may be approved if the Council are satisfied that there were good reasons for beginning the works before the application was approved.

Where the Council decide to approve an application in accordance with this paragraph they may, with the consent of the applicant, treat the application as varied so that the assisted works do not include any that are completed.

Where a statutory notice has been served by the Council for relevant grant-aided or assisted works.

8.8 Decision and Notification

The Council will notify an applicant for assistance where the applicant is approved or refused. The notification will be in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, and, in any event, not later than six months after the date on which the application was received.

If the application is approved the notification will also specify the works which are eligible for assistance, the value of the assistance and the form that the assistance will take.

If the application is refused, the Council will at the same time explain the reasons for the refusal and the procedure for appealing against the decision.

If the Council are satisfied that owing to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant the cost of the assisted works has increased or decreased, they may re-determine the amount of the assistance and notify the applicant accordingly.

8.9  Appeals about decisions in individual cases/exceptional cases

Appeals about how the policy is operated in individual cases, for example, where an enquiry or application for assistance is refused, will be considered by the Housing and Community Regeneration Manager.

Appeals must be set out in writing and sent to the Housing and Community Regeneration Manager, Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ. The appeal submission must include the specific grounds on which the appeal is based. Appeals will be considered only on the following grounds:

• that the policy has not been applied correctly in the case in question, for example there has been a mistake

• that the case in question is exceptional in some way that justifies an exception to the general policy.

Appeals will not be considered on the grounds that the appellant simply disagrees with the policy. However, any written comments and complaints about the policy will also be considered by the Housing and Community Regeneration Manager as described above.

A written response to an appeal will be given. If the Housing and Community Regeneration Manager believes that the case is exceptional, or at least merits further consideration, it will be referred to the Director of Community Services along with recommendations and options where appropriate. The Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Council Portfolio holder for Housing may then authorise a grant or other assistance as an exception to general policy.

8.10  Who to Contact

  i) Disabled Facilities Grant

  Grant Advice  - 

  The Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ

  Tel: 01743 281098

  Occupational Therapist - Mrs C Croxford

  Disability Living Team, St Michaels House,

  St Michaels Street, Shrewsbury

  Tel: 01743 255843

  Mrs C Ritchie

  Children with Disabilities

  Richmond House, Rutland, Harlescott

  Shrewsbury

  Tel: 01743 460560

  Home Improvement Agency - Mrs D Dormer

  Shropshire Care & Repair,

  c/o Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council,

  Underdale Road Depot

  Shrewsbury, SY2 5DQ

  Tel: 01743 281383

 ii)  Major Works Grants

 iii)  Minor Works

 iii)  HMO Grants 

 Contact for above - Mr N Wood

 The Guildhall, Frankwell Quay,

 Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ

  Tel:  01743 281098

  v)  Affordable/Social Housing - Mr N Wood

 Housing Manager

    The Guildhall, Frankwell Quay,

  Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ

    Tel: 01743 281097

  vi)  Landlords Forum -

 The Guildhall, Frankwell Quay,

 Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ

    Tel: 01743 281098

  vii)  Homelessness/Allocations - Severnside Housing

  Severnside House, Brassey Road

  Off Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury, SY3 1FA

  Tel: 01743 285000

  viii)  Student Accreditation  - Student Liaison Officer

  S.C.A.T, London Road, Shrewsbury

    Tel: 01743 342324

  ix)    Energy Efficiency Advice Centre 

    Jubilee House, Madeley, Telford

    Tel: 0800 512 012