Home improvement or disrepair grants and loans
This page provides information about the different grants and loans available to assist residents who need improvements or essential repairs to their property.
The grants and loans are available to property owners, leaseholders, private tenants and landlords and housing associations. Council tenants should contact Asset Management.
What type of help is available?
There are different grants and loans available for home improvement or disrepair. Read about them below.
Housing, Health and Safety Repair Grant
What is it for?
to remove Category 1 and 2 Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) hazards and bring properties up to liveable standard
essential works such as roof repairs, repairs to dangerous electrical/gas installations, lack of fixed heating, lack of hot water, inadequate sanitation and drainage
Who is it for?
Owner-occupiers or private tenants (with a repairing obligation).
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works according to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Where hazards are found, we will determine the best way of dealing with them and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much you can get
A maximum of £20,000 towards the cost of the grant eligible works.
Conditions
property must be over 10 years old
owner-occupiers must have lived in the property for at least 3 years prior to date of application
tenants must have lived in the property for 3 years, have a repairing obligation and a tenancy with no less than 5 years to run
in certain circumstances, the grant may have to be paid back if the property is sold within 10 years of the works being completed
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Who is it for?
Owner-occupiers or private tenants (with a repairing obligation).
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works according to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Where hazards are found, we will determine the best way of dealing with them and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much you can get
A maximum of £20,000 towards the cost of the grant eligible works.
Conditions
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Landlord Grant
What is it for?
works to remedy items of disrepair which are harmful to the health, safety, security or welfare of occupants
works required to meet the standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation
Who is it for?
landlords who own the property in question or have a lease with at least five years to run
landlords who have been issued with an enforcement, prohibition or emergency remedial notice
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of the property and assess the eligible works. We will also determine the best way of bringing the property back into use and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much you can get
50% of the cost of the grant eligible work up to a Maximum of £10,000.
What you should be aware of
The minimum grant is £1,000. On completion of work the property should:
be free from category 1 hazards as defined by the HHSR System
be in a reasonable state of repair
have reasonable modern facilities
have adequate means of fire escape and detection system
have sufficient facilities to comply with the current ‘Amenity Standards’
the grant must be repaid if the property is sold or no longer let within five years of the completion of work
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Who is it for?
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of the property and assess the eligible works. We will also determine the best way of bringing the property back into use and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much you can get
50% of the cost of the grant eligible work up to a Maximum of £10,000.
What you should be aware of
The minimum grant is £1,000. On completion of work the property should:
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Flexible Home Improvement Loans (FHIL)
Reading Borough Council can now offer you the ultimate Flexible Home Improvement Loans to improve the warmth, comfort, safety, and security of your home. Read more about the available loans below.
Flexible Home Improvement Loan: Empty Homes
What is it for?
works to bring empty properties back into use and up to decent home standard
renovations, repairs and/or energy efficiency measures e.g. heating, boilers,
insulation and double glazing
Who is it for?
Owners of long term empty homes. The empty home must have been owned by the applicant for 2 years.
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works according to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Where hazards are found, we will determine the best way of dealing with them and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much can you get?
Up to £20,000.00 towards the cost of the necessary works. If the total cost of works exceeds £20,000.00, the applicant must prove they have sufficient funds to complete the works.
What you should be aware of
all applications are subject to a credit check, including council tax arrears
the loan is offered on a 5-year fixed term
sufficient equity in the property is required to support the loan
the loan must not exceed the lesser of the cost of the works or two-thirds of the
value of the property
the loan must be repaid if the property is sold
there is interest paid on the loan
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Who is it for?
Owners of long term empty homes. The empty home must have been owned by the applicant for 2 years.
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works according to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Where hazards are found, we will determine the best way of dealing with them and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much can you get?
Up to £20,000.00 towards the cost of the necessary works. If the total cost of works exceeds £20,000.00, the applicant must prove they have sufficient funds to complete the works.
What you should be aware of
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Over 60 Home Improvement Loan (HIL)
What is it for?
improvement works to bring property up to decent home standards
works relating to for example, heating, plumbing, electrics, roofing, drainage, damp
proofing, gutter and disabled adaptations
can be used with a Disabled Facilities Grant where the eligible works are in excess of £30,000.00
Who is it for?
owner occupiers over the age of 60
if joint owners, one can be 55 years of age
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works. We will determine the best way of dealing with any hazards and/or adaptations works and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much can you get?
Up to £20,000.00 towards the cost of the necessary works.
What you should be aware of
The cost of the loan is secured as a charge on the property. Interest is charged on the capital loan at a rate linked to the Bank of England interest rate. If you have an existing mortgage, we will need to get consent from your lender to secure a second charge.
The loan must be repaid in any of the following ways:
regular repayments of interest only, or capital and interest
occasional repayments of lump sums that suit the owner
the loan must be repaid in full when the property is sold or the owners cease to occupy it
the initial set up fee is £80 and the annual management fee is £15
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Who is it for?
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works. We will determine the best way of dealing with any hazards and/or adaptations works and those works will be eligible for grant funding.
How much can you get?
Up to £20,000.00 towards the cost of the necessary works.
What you should be aware of
The cost of the loan is secured as a charge on the property. Interest is charged on the capital loan at a rate linked to the Bank of England interest rate. If you have an existing mortgage, we will need to get consent from your lender to secure a second charge.
The loan must be repaid in any of the following ways:
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Flexible Improvement Loan: Rented Accommodation
What is it for?
Works for the purpose of improving the quality of the accommodation for the tenants, or prospective tenants.
Who is it for?
Landlords who own property.
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works.
How much can you get?
Up to £50,000.00 towards the cost of the necessary works.
What you should be aware of
the maximum loan term is 15 years
maximum loan is the lesser of the cost of repairs/improvements, or 75% of the value
of the property
loans are secured by a first charge or, in some cases, a second charge on the
property
the loan must be able to be repaid from the net income from the property and/or
other income sources
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Works for the purpose of improving the quality of the accommodation for the tenants, or prospective tenants.
Who is it for?
Landlords who own property.
How it works
We will arrange to carry out a survey of your property and assess the eligible works.
How much can you get?
Up to £50,000.00 towards the cost of the necessary works.
What you should be aware of
How to apply
Contact the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.
Last updated on 26/07/2024
Home improvement or disrepair grants and loans