Hackney Council

Discretionary renovation grants for homes

Hackney Council's discretionary grants for essential repairs and improvements to private homes in Hackney, run by its private sector housing team and mainly for owner occupiers on means-tested benefits or a low income. They include a hospital discharge grant (up to £2,000), external works grant (up to £5,000), general repairs grant (up to £20,000) and warmth and security grant (up to £6,000). Owners over 60 can get up to £1,000 towards energy efficiency and security works regardless of income if they pay at least half. Disabled facilities grants (up to £30,000) are covered by a separate record.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £20,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Owner occupiers of private homes in the London Borough of Hackney (the hospital discharge, external works and general repairs grants are for owner occupiers only)
Except for the able-to-pay scheme for over-60s, applicants must receive a means-tested benefit (universal credit, income support, income-based ESA, income-based JSA, guarantee pension credit, working tax credit and/or child tax credit with income below £15,050, or housing benefit) or show a low income through the council's means test
Applicants must live in the property, have lived there for at least three years before applying, and give a written assurance that they intend to live there for at least five years after the work is completed
Private tenants are eligible only for disabled facilities grants, which have different rules and their own record

What it funds

Hospital discharge grant (up to £2,000): work enabling eligible residents to return home from hospital or preventing them going into hospital, such as minor repairs or adaptations like hand rails
External works grant (up to £5,000): work to the exterior of a house or flat to make it weathertight, such as roof repairs or renewal, guttering, rainwater pipes or brickwork, including emergency work to prevent further deterioration
General repairs grant (up to £20,000): work to make the house or flat fit to live in or bring it up to a reasonable standard of repair, such as roofs, guttering, rainwater pipes, brickwork, window renewal, damp proofing, plasterwork and electrical works
Warmth and security grant (up to £6,000): energy efficiency and security works such as loft insulation, pipe and tank lagging, draught-proofing, boiler replacement, thermostatic radiator valves, window and door locks and bolts, door chains and viewers and security lighting
Able-to-pay scheme: grants of up to £1,000 for applicants over 60, regardless of income, who pay at least 50% of the cost of energy efficiency and home security works

What it will not fund

Redecoration and improvement works such as new kitchens and bathrooms
General repairs grant for owners who have received previous grant aid from the Council (other than a disabled facilities grant)

How to apply

Contact Hackney's private sector housing team (privatesectorhousing@hackney.gov.uk, 020 8356 4866, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm) with your full name, address and telephone number to ask for a preliminary enquiry pack containing leaflets on all the grants
If you do not receive a qualifying benefit, provide financial information for a means test

Where the grant will not cover the work or you are not eligible, owners over 60 can ask about equity release loans through the Houseproud scheme (Home Improvement Trust, 0800 783 7569), and DABD can check benefit entitlement and funding options. These are loans or advice, not grants.

Have ready

Proof of a qualifying means-tested benefit, or financial information for a means test
Written assurance that you intend to live in the property for at least five years after the work is completed

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