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> Home > Housing Help > Grants > Types of grants available > Home repair assistance grant

Home repair assistance grant

The home repair assistance grant is for small-scale repair work and improvements. The property must be your main or only home. 

We only award home repair assistance grants in the exceptional circumstances listed below:

  • the home repair assistance grant  is necessary to complete a disabled facilities grant
  • the property has 'imminent and significant' health and safety risks for the occupant(s)
  • the property's structural stability puts the occupant(s) at serious risk

Please note this grant-aid is subject to funding.

Owner occupiers and private tenants may qualify if they meet the following criteria:

  • you are over 60 years old; or
  • you are over 18 years old and are receiving:
  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
  • Working Tax Credit or
  • Pension Credit (guarantee credit element) or
  • Universal Credit

You are over 18 years old and are ill or have a disability and are receiving:

  • Attendance Allowance (AA)
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
  • Mobility Supplement
  • Long Term Incapacity Benefit
  • Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)

The home repair assistance grant allows small scale work to:

  • the outside of your home (for example roof repair and rendering)
  • improve health and safety (for example repair electrical wiring)

The maximum amount you can receive is £5,000 in a period of 3 years.

It will depend on what work you need.

We administer the grant aid on behalf of the Department for Communities.

We do not arrange for work to be completed, or carry out work.

It is your responsibility to:

  • appoint an architect to develop drawings (a principal designer)
  • appoint a builder or contractor, if needed, to carry out the work (a principal contractor)
  • arrange planning permission and/or building regulations approval where necessary

You can read more information about contractors at:

You can also read advice from NI Direct about:

If you have any questions please contact your local Grants Office on:

Members of our team will be happy to help you at any point of the process.

If you need extra support during the grant application process then you can contact:

  • Radius Housing | T: 033 0123 0888 (Staying Put Team)
  • Gable | T: 028 7188 2147 | E: gable@shelterni.org (operates in Limavady, Derry~Londonderry, Magherafelt, Strabane)

Each case is unique. But some factors will affect the length of time:

  • the demand for grant aid
  • the money / budget available
  • if a disabled facilities grant has been awarded, and
  • receiving information from you including, where necessary:
    • income / benefit details, builder information, building control certificates

The grant awarded will only be paid when

  • your builder finishes the work
  • building control has approved the work
  • our staff confirm the grant-aided work has been carried out; and
  • you have sent us all required accounts, receipts and certificates

You must not start any work until you get an ‘Approval of Application’ in writing from us.

This approval confirms:

  • how much grant aid you will get
  • that you can start work
  • the date by which you must finish the work