The Renovation Grant is for homes that have been inspected and found unfit to live in.
Renovation Grants are currently being awarded only in the following exceptional circumstances:
The property must be occupied by you as your main, or principal, home and fulfil at least one of the following criteria:
-
awarding of the Renovation Grant is necessary in order to complete a mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant
-
the needed repairs post an 'imminent and significant' health and safety risk that impacts on the occupant(s)
-
the property's structural stability puts the occupant(s) at serious risk
What type of property is eligible?
You may qualify if your property is 10 years or more and it is:
- unfit for human habitation;
- in a state of disrepair;
- not in a redeveloped area and will not be included in one within the next 12 months; and
- not part of a Group Repair Scheme and will not be part of one within the next 12 months.
Who can apply?
You can apply for a grant if you:
- own or intend to buy a house or flat (alone or with others);
- are a tenant and are responsible for repairing the house; and
- are 18 years or over; and
- are currently living in the property.
What kind of work is covered?
Work covered by this grant can include:
- damp proofing
- roof replacement
- providing basic facilities such as bathroom, kitchen or hot water system
- replacing chimneys
- plaster work
- electrical work
- basic heating may also be included and in certain circumstances security
Can I do other work?
Yes, if you wish to carry out additional work then you must arrange to pay for this yourself, it will not be grant aided.
Will the Housing Executive carry out the work?
The Housing Executive administers the grant aid on behalf of the Department for Communities. This means it does not arrange for or carry out work.
It is your responsibility to:
- appoint an architect to develop drawings (a Principal Designer);
- appoint a builder / contractor [link to page] (a Principal Contractor) to carry out the work; and
- arrange planning permission and/or building regulations approval where necessary.
I may need help with my application
If you have any questions about making an application for a Renovation Grant please contact your local Grants Office on 03448 920 900 (textphone 18001 03448 920 900). Members of our team will be happy to help you at any point of the process.
If you believe you need extra support during the grant application process then you can contact:
How long does it take?
Each case is unique but a number of factors will affect the length of time:
- the demand for grant aid;
- the money / budget available; and
- receiving information from you (income details, architect drawings, builder information).
What are the conditions of the grant?
When you apply for the grant you must:
- occupy the house as your only or main residence for 5 years; or
- if you are a landlord, make the house available for letting for 5 years after the work is completed.
The five years starts from the date which the work is signed-off by a Technical Officer. If you break this agreement you may have to repay some, or all, of the grant-aid paid to you.
How much can I get?
The maximum amount available per applicant is £25,000 but the final amount awarded depends on the cost of the work and your financial circumstances.
To calculate what contribution you will be asked to make, also called ‘Test of Resources’, we will look at the total household income. This will include income for you, your partner, if you have one, as well as any other owner named on the deeds of the property that is living in, or intends to live in, the property.
Total income will include all earnings from employment (including self-employment), income from certain benefits, pensions, savings or any other source(s).
For more information contact your local grants office.
If you are a landlord the award amount is calculated on a percentage basis.
Please note
You must not start any work until you have received the ‘Approval of Application’ from the Housing Executive.
This approval confirms:
- how much grant aid you have been awarded;
- you can start; and
- the date by which the work must be completed.