If you own a property that needs repairs or improvements, Allerdale Borough Council may be able to help you to meet all or part of the cost of the work. Allerdale Borough Council's aim is to offer help for those who can least afford to pay to keep their property in good condition. All grants/assistance are means tested that means they are of most help to those with lowest incomes.

Research into housing conditions in Allerdale has shown that the elderly and those on low incomes are the most likely to live in unsatisfactory homes.

Our Housing Assistance Policy targets help to these groups and areas, to make sure that deteriorating conditions are tackled before they get too serious forcing people to leave their homes or before badly maintained properties blight a neighbourhood and drive down property values.

Assistance is not offered to private landlords, although in a few rare cases tenants with repairing obligations in their tenancy agreement can apply for help. Private sector renting is a commercial enterprise and the income received from rents should be enough to finance the property's upkeep.

For disabled people, we offer a special scheme Disabled Facilities Grants. These are offered on the basis of an assessment of what the customer needs to make their home more suitable and easier in which to live.

As part of Allerdale Borough Council's new commitment to respond rapidly to changing circumstances in our area, the policy is reviewed every year to make sure that we can continue to offer help and assistance to match the changing priorities identified by our communities across the Borough.

Don't assume that you will automatically be offered assistance, even though your property and your personal circumstances appear to come within our current Housing Assistance Policy. If you are in any doubt as to how our Housing Assistance Policy applies to you, then please contact Allerdale Borough Council's Housing Services team. We will be able to help you to find out what help there is to improve your property.

Allerdale Borough Council can provide grants to help cover the cost of housing adaptations for disabled people who need help to allow them to stay living in their own home. We work closely with Cumbria County Council's Occupational Therapists Team to make sure the adaptations we support are what are needed by our clients.

Disabled Facilities Grant is mandatory for certain essential adaptations to give a disabled person better freedom of movement into and around the home and to have access to essential facilities. It is, however, means tested (but not for adaptations for children). Most of the normal adaptations such as installing ramps, stair lifts and through floor lifts, or the provision of level access shower facilities will qualify for mandatory grant assistance. Some items for the welfare and employment of a disabled person may however be classed as discretionary works and will not normally be grant supported by Allerdale Borough Council. 

Allerdale Borough Council offers a limited renovation assistance service to help low income homeowners put right serious problems with their homes. All assistance is means tested that means the assistance is of most help to those with lowest incomes.

Home Repair Assistance is offered at our discretion. To help us to balance demand against our limited funds, we have a priority system to target help at those most in need. The upper limit for help is £2,500 and the assistance is secured against the property. That means that when the property is sold the assistance has to be repaid to the Council to be recycled for other needy households.

Discretionary Renovation Assistance helps an owner, or a tenant with repairing obligations, to carry out extensive repairs, improvements or renovations to your home to make it fit for human habitation, and is means tested using the Government's Test Of Resources.  The upper limit for help is £15,000 and the assistance is secured against the property in an Allerdale Renewal Area. That means that when the property is sold the assistance has to be repaid to the Council to be recycled for other needy households. There are currently two Renewal Areas in Allerdale one in central Maryport and the other in the centre of Workington.  Assistance is not offered to private landlords. Private sector renting is a commercial enterprise and the income received from rents should be enough to finance the property's upkeep. 

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