Revised DDC Housing Assistance Policy aims to help more people with home improvements

Dover District Council Cabinet have agreed changes to their Housing Assistance Policy, to help more people across the district with repairs and improvements to their homes.

The range of grants is now even more inclusive, with additional funding for adaptations to homes to help disabled people, and additional financial assistance to bring empty homes back into use, as well as a range of loans and grants to help people in their homes.

The revised policy has been agreed to help improve housing in the district, to help people live independently at home for longer, to help people out of hospitals and back into their own homes, and to bring empty homes back into use. 

A range of help available includes: Disabled Facilities Grants; Disabled Adaptations Grants; Disabled Adaptations Loans; Stairlift Grants; Hospital Discharge/Admissions Service; Disabled Home Assistance Grants; Disabled Relocation Grants; Empty Homes Loans; Urgent Home Loans; and Winter Warmth Grants. 

Grants worth up to £30,000 are available for disabled adaptations to properties to help people, both young and old, to continue to live independent lives. Disabled Facilities Grants are available to make homes safer and to allow people to live independent lives, by paying for changes like stairlifts, ramps, grab rails, walk-in showers and adjustable height baths.  

Mrs Patricia Cook from Deal is just one of the people who benefited from the Council’s help to improve her property. The Council provided a Disabled Facilities Grant for a stairlift and to replace the bathroom with a level access shower, as well as a Winter Warmth Grant for a new boiler and heating, and an Urgent Home Loan to replace windows, provide a basic kitchen, and deal with some structural problems. 

Cllr Pauline Beresford, DDC Cabinet Member for Housing said: "We are delighted to be able to increase the range of financial assistance we have available, and to help people in their homes. If you need help for repairs, improvements or adaptations to your home, please contact us, we may be able to help, and it could be life-changing."

For more information, or to see if you might be eligible for help in your home, call 01304 872397 or email privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk.