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Council house
- deeds
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The local authority does not retain the deeds where a
property has been sold under the right to buy scheme
it will be retained by the leaseholders mortgage or
loan lender.
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Council
housing - evictions
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If a tenant fails to pay rent or breaches any aspects
of their tenancy agreement the local authority has
the right to evict the tenant by applying to the
court to repossess the property.
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Council
housing - late tenancy arrears - rents
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When a person leaves a council tenancy they become
known as a 'former or late tenant'. If there are
arrears at the end of the tenancy the Council will
continue to pursue these. The council will discuss
repayment terms with the tenant and could, if payment
is not made, summons the former tenant to Court to
get an Order for payment
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Council
housing - rents
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Every council tenant must pay rent for their
property. Rent is usually payable weekly and may
include other regular or communal charges associated
with the property. The local authority will help
tenants to claim any available assistance with paying
their rent.
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Crofting and
rural house purchase grants
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If you live in a rural area or on a croft, you may be
eligible for a grant to help towards the purchase or
construction of your own home.
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Fair
rents - homes in multiple occupation
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Private tenants who think they are paying too much
rent can get the councils rent services to inspect
the property and set a fair rent appropriate to the
property. Inspections are also carried out into homes
in multiple occupation to look for disrepair,
inadequate facilities, means of escape, dangerous or
defective lifts, general mismanagement and
overcrowding.
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Home
improvements - disability facility grant for a
private property
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The disabled facilities grant scheme provides
financial assistance towards the cost of essential
adaptation work to make a house fit for a disabled
person.
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Home
improvements - home repair assistance grant
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The repair assistance grant scheme provides financial
assistance towards the cost of materials required to
carry out repairs, improvements or adaptations to
rented council property.
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Home
improvements - housing renovation grant for a private
property
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A renovation grant scheme provides financial
assistance towards the cost of larger scale works
required to make a house fit for occupancy or to put
a dwelling into reasonable repair.
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Home
improvements - renovation grants
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The house renovation grants scheme provides council
tenants with financial assistance towards the cost of
home improvements.
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Home
purchase grants
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Under the home move purchase scheme the local
authority will pay a tenant a grant to help them buy
their new home. The tenant must give up their
property to be eligible for this scheme.
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Housing -
improvement and repairs loans
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Local authorities may provide financial assistance
(in the form of a mortgage or secured loan) to
existing or prospective homeowners to enable them to
carry out improvements and repairs on their property.
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Housing -
rent determination
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The local authority is obliged to send details of a
tenancy to the Rent Office for private tenants in
receipt of housing benefit whose tenancy commenced
after 1 January 1989, the local authority is obliged
to send details of your tenancy to the Rent Officer.
It is the responsibility of the Rent Officer to tell
us if you are being charged a reasonable rent for
your accommodation. The Rent Officer will make a
determination and advise us of the appropriate rent
to be used in your Housing Benefit assessment.
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Housing
and Council Tax Benefit Overpayments
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The local authority has a duty to recover
overpayments of benefit for which there was no
entitlement from tenants and landlords and where
necessary take criminal proceedings in respect of
fraudulent overpayments.
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Housing
and Council Tax Benefit appeals
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Anyone who has claimed housing benefit and disagrees
with the decision made in their assessment can
challenge the decision by submitting an appeals form
within one month of the date of the original
decision. The authority is responsible for advising
claimants of appeal procedures and investigating each
appeal.
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Housing
benefit - backdated claims
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A claimant may be eligible for their claim for
housing benefit to be backdated (by up to 52 weeks)
if there is a good cause why they were unable to
apply for their housing benefit earlier. The
authority is responsible for advising residents about
eligibility for backdating claims and for processing
applications.
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Housing
benefit - change of circumstances
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Review of housing benefit for an existing client
usually as a result of a change of circumstances (new
job, change of address etc.)
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Housing
benefit - new claim
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Processing of a new claim for housing benefit from
both council and private tenants. Claims require
evidence of tenancy and income in order to assess
eligibility for benefit.
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Housing
benefit - renewal
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Housing benefit is generally paid for a maximum of 60
weeks (5 years if the claimant is over 60). The local
authority is responsible for issuing the claimant
with a renewal form approximately 8 weeks before the
current benefit period is due to end and for
assessing the eligibility of the claimant to continue
to receive housing benefit.
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Low
cost home ownership
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Provision and management of a scheme whereby eligible
local citizens can purchase property at a reduced
cost or participate in shared ownership schemes.
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Rent
setting
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The local authority is responsible for setting the
level of rent based on how much it needs to spend on
services for its tenants. Rents should be published
giving reasonable notice of any changes (usually at
least one month).
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