Walsall Council agreed at their full council meeting on 24 February 2011 the new Housing Renewal Assistance Policy for the borough. This policy replaces previous policies and sets out the criteria and types of assistance.
This is the full version of the council’s policy for allocating grants / loans and other assistance to home owners and tenants who need help to repair and adapt their property.
It can be viewed using the following link:
Housing_Renewal_Assistance_Policy_2011 (PDF 208KB)
PrioritiesThe Housing Acts give councils the power to offer informal help and discretionary financial assistance to owner occupiers, tenants and private sector landlords to improve the quality and availability of housing. Where there is a disabled person in a household, in many circumstances local authorities have a mandatory duty to offer a DFG to assist with the cost of adaptation work.
As resources are limited and there is substantial demand, especially for mandatory DFGs, it is essential to ensure that financial assistance is offered on a fair, priority basis that takes account of competing needs.
The responsibility to maintain private property rests firmly with the owner, but the condition and availability of private sector housing stock does have substantial implications for this council's housing strategy, especially in terms of access to affordable housing.
The council has an excellent track record of securing external funding for a variety of housing and regeneration initiatives and based on the above the following priorities have been set using identified funding sources:
Priority | Area of work | Funded by (where available) |
| 1 | Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants. | Government Grants |
| 2 | Aids and adaptations including discretionary adaptation grants, ‘exceptional top-up’ assistance, low cost adaptation grants, preventative adaptations. | Council capital resources and external loan and grant funds. |
| 3 | Address Category 1 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. | Council capital resources External loan and grant funds. |
| 4 | Create decent private sector homes reducing deaths and hospital admissions due to cold / damp properties. | Council capital resources External loan and grant funds. |
| 5 | Reduce fuel poverty and CO2 emissions from heating in private sector homes. | External loan and grant funds. |
In January 2010 Cabinet approved the use of land charges in line with national guidance for statutory DFGs. As at 17th November 2010 total of £386,000 land charges have been applied.
With the reducing availability and level of funds to assist residents it is proposed that wherever practicable to offer assistance as grants that are 100% recoverable through a land / property charge on the sale or relevant disposal of the property.
Contact usHousing Standards and Improvement Service
3rd Floor Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1TP
Telephone 01922 652171/652172
Fax 01922 652196
Email housingstandardsandimprovement@walsall.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 16 December 2011