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Home improvements - disability facility grant for a private property
Disabled facilities grants
Mandatory disabled facilities grants are available to help qualifying applicants pay for the cost of adapting a home to meet the needs of a disabled person.
Eligibility for a grant
Home owners, housing association tenants, private tenants and landlords can apply in respect of a disabled occupant. Applications will only be considered, however, where Durham County Council Social Services Department have recommended the work and confirmed that works are necessary and appropriate.
This means that the works need to provide the most effective long-term solution, taking into account the relevant circumstances of those affected. In some instances, the existing home will not be suitable for adaptation and, with the disabled person's agreement, the Council may decide that it is better to help them move to more suitable accommodation.
Qualifying works
In considering the Social Services recommendations, the Council must establish that the proposed works are necessary, appropriate as well as reasonable and practicable.
The following categories of work are eligible for mandatory disabled facilities grant:
- adaptations to aid access into (and around) the dwelling
- provision of appropriate bathroom facilities, suitable sleeping facilities and heating, and access to lighting and power
- appropriate kitchen adaptations if the disabled person is the main caterer (minor kitchen adaptations if the disabled person is not the main caterer)
- adaptations to enable the disabled person to care for dependent residents
Where a number of suitable options have been identified to meet the needs of the disabled person, the Council will only provide a grant in respect of the most cost effective option.
Means-test and maximum grant
All applications will be subject to a standard means-test of the disabled person and their partner. This will determine how much the applicant will be required to contribute towards the cost of the qualifying works. The applicant's contribution will be reduced by the amount of any previous contribution they have made towards a renovation grant or a disabled facilities grant at that property within the 10 years preceding the application date if they are an owner (or within 5 years if they are a tenant).
If the disabled person is a child under the age of 18 recent changes have removed the requirement to carry out a means test.
In the case of a landlord's application, the landlord may be required to make a contribution towards the cost of the works. The size of the applicant's contribution will be determined by the Council's Portfolio Holder for Housing and the Head of Environment and Leisure Services according to the particular circumstances and merits of the case.
The maximum disabled facilities grant payable is £25,000 less any assessed contribution.
Enquiries and applications should be made to the Durham
and Chester-le-Street Care and Repair Agency. Telephone
number 0191 3753690.
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