Cabinet approves new Housing Assistance Policy

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet has approved a new Housing Assistance Policy at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 10th January 2024.

The policy sets out the range of financial assistance available to enable people to live safely and as independently as possible in their own homes.

All local authorities must provide Disabled Facilities Grants to all people who are eligible. These grants can be used to provide adaptations to enable independent living, including ramps, stair lifts, level access showers and door widening.

The Council is also able to offer a wider range of discretionary financial assistance, for disabled adaptations and to help homeowners whose homes are falling into disrepair but cannot afford to make the repairs themselves. To provide this discretionary assistance, local authorities must have a Housing Assistance Policy.

The new Housing Assistance Policy sets out the eligibility criteria, conditions and application processes for the various forms of assistance, to enable people and professionals to access the information and apply for assistance as easily as possible. It aims to make application processes as efficient and straightforward as possible.

The previous policy was adopted in 2018 and has now been reviewed due to updated Government guidance, increases in costs of works, more complex cases, and in response to an increase in people living in fuel poverty and people affected by damp and mould in their homes.

Cllr Christine Warner, Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, said:

“We have a statutory duty to provide Disabled Facilities Grants for residents to help them stay at home for longer, enabling adaptions to their homes for independent living. This policy sets out financial assistance that goes over and above these Disabled Facilities Grants. It will make a huge difference to people’s lives as it will enable them to live in their homes for longer, which is the best place for people to be.”

The Policy has been developed with a range of partners including the Home Improvement Agency and Foundations UK.

The Policy has been informed by the feedback of residents and stakeholders, who were asked for their views during a consultation which ran over a 12-week period from Monday 19 June 2023 until Sunday 10 September 2023.

The consultation findings and feedback on the key messages are available on the Council website:

Housing Assistance Policy consultation | Cheshire West and Chester Council