LUTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
AWARD POLICY FOR EMPTY HOME GRANTS
Who can apply for an Empty Home Grant?
In order to be eligible for an Empty Home Grant the following criteria must be
met:
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The applicant(s) must be aged 18 or over on the date of application
Have an ‘owner’s interest’ in the dwelling
Have a duty or power to carry out the works in question
Properties must have been empty for at least 2 years
Comply with all relevant grant conditions
How do I apply?
Initial enquiries should be directed to the Empty Homes Officer. You must do
this before you commence any work. You will not receive any assistance for
work commencing prior to the Council approving the application.
Applications must be submitted on the Empty Home Grant application form.
Applications will be placed on a waiting list and be dealt with as soon as
possible after receipt.
Empty Home Grants are a discretionary form of assistance. Grants are
available towards the cost of refurbishment of empty properties to bring the
property up to the ‘Decent Homes Standard’.
The maximum grant level is £30,000 for a single dwelling. In return, the
owner must match fund the works carried out to the property and offer the
Council nomination rights for a period of five years.
You should ensure that you separately secure any planning or building
regulation approvals that may be required.
Examples of Eligible works
Remedy instability
Remedy serious disrepair
Remedy severe dampness
Provide heating, lighting or ventilation
Provide adequate water supplies and provide adequate drainage
Provide cooking and food preparation facilities
Provide a suitable toilet, bath or shower and wash basin
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Examples of non eligible works
Furniture, fittings, white goods, decorating or day-to-day maintenance
Solicitor’s fees etc
Grant conditions:
The grant is available subject to the following conditions:
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The property has been empty for at least 2 years.
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The Decent Home Standard must be met on completion of the works and
maintained for the length of the agreement, with no Category 1 hazards
under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
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The property (and its fixtures and fittings) must be fully insured; a copy of
the current insurance certificate to be sent with the claim for payment of
grant.
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The schedule of works will be drawn up by a Luton Borough Council
Environmental Health Officer.
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On completion of the works the following must be provided:
a)
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Electrical Certificates
Gas Safety Certificates (on an annual basis)
A certificate for adequate buildings insurance (on an annual basis)
Energy Performance Certificates (on each letting)
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Tenancy Agreements to be approved by the council.
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On completion of the works an inspection will be carried out to ensure all
works have been satisfactorily completed. Although the Council officer will
check the works for grant purposes, it is important that you, as the owner
of the property, are satisfied. If not you must discuss your concerns with
your contractor.
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You must ensure that all works are started within 3 months, and completed
within six months of approval. The Council has a list of approved
contractors, if you choose to use an organisation from this list it will be
possible to provide interim payments to the company, if however, you
choose a company not on this list payment will be made once they have
provided a copy of their final account and all relevant completion
certificates, e.g. Building control, gas, electrical and fire alarm test
certificates and guarantees.
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If whilst the work is being carried out, additional work is found, that could
not reasonably be foreseen when the estimates were submitted, the grant
may be increased up to the grant maximum subject to submission of
estimates. However you would need to obtain permission from the
Council before undertaking any additional works for which you wished
grant funding. You would need to fund any unforeseen works which were
not agreed by the Council, or which were above the grant limit.
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Maintenance and repair responsibilities will be transferred during the lease
period to Luton Community Housing Association – Luton Borough
Council’s partner in the Private Sector Leasing Scheme.
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The property must be within the boundaries of Luton Borough.
The grant applicant will be required to enter into an agreement (grant
condition period) with the Council which requires that:
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The property will be available for rent for the period of the agreement at
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rent levels as set by the Rent Officer
Service.
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The Council is provided with 100% tenancy nomination rights for the
period of the agreement.
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The property satisfies the Council’s Registered Partners Lettable
Standards as follows:
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Post war houses with cavity wall external construction
Provide curtains to all windows with rails or poles
A recently cleaned gas or electric cooker
All floors covered with either carpets, laminated flooring or vinyl
sheeting
Ensure all doors and windows open and close satisfactorily and have
suitable ironmongery
All windows must be double glazed
All glass internal doors to be safety glass or cover with hardboard /
plywood if not painted or stained as appropriate
All habitable rooms must be centrally heated
Provide working smoke alarms at ground and first floor
Ensure no polystyrene to ceilings or ceiling coves
2 no double sockets in each bedroom and living areas with sufficient
sockets in the kitchen for all appliances
Lights to be provided with bulbs and shade if possible
Open hearths are to be filled in with plywood etc and vented
Fitted wardrobes can remain in place to bedrooms
Feature fireplaces etc can remain in place
All staircases to have balustrades, not to be open and to have a
handrail to one side
Fittings – a) Bath must have shower attachment with shower rail
and Curtain.
b) Sinks, bath and basin require plug chain and stay and
individual mixer taps.
Kitchen fittings - recently cleaned, all doors and drawers open and
close satisfactorily and have suitable handles
All rooms to be in good decorative order
No signs of rising damp or condensation
Provide a minimum of 150mm insulation in roof space
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Do I have to repay the grant?
The grant does not have to be repaid providing the terms and conditions are
met.
Where the terms and conditions are not met the grant must be repaid in full by
the owner.
A complete application is:
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A fully completed, signed and dated application form completed by the
owner(s) of the property.
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Proof of ownership e.g. Land Registry.
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Mortgagee’s consent to carry out the works (if necessary).
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An original document showing the National Insurance Number of each
owner
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A copy of the buildings insurance.
NO APPLICATION CAN BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT ALL THE
RELEVANT INFORMATION BEING ATTACHED
Failure to comply with the conditions of the agreement will result in a
demand for repayment of grant monies in full.
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