Qualifying for a grant

To qualify for any grant, the house must have been built or converted to a house more than 10 years before the date of application for a grant. We must also be satisfied that upon the completion of works that the house will meet a tolerable standard and be kept in a good state of repair.

The law prevents the Council from giving grant assistance in cases where unapproved work has already started or has been completed, except where there has been good reason for not waiting on grant approval (e.g. a major burst of a lead pipe). You must wait until your grant application has been approved in writing before commencing work.

To ensure that the maximum benefit is derived from the public monies that fund the financial assistance element of the Scheme of Assistance, the following grant conditions will apply for a period of 10 years from grant payment being made:

  1. The house must be used as a private dwelling, although part of it can be used for other purposes.
  2. The house must be the main residence either of the owner or a member of their family.
  3. The owner must seek to ensure that the premises or land is kept in a good state of repair.
  4. The grant will be repayable in reducing tranches of 10% per year if the owner sells the property within 10 years of the grant being paid.
  5. The grant will be repayable if the owner sells the property within 10 years of the grant being paid.*
  6. The local authority can require the owner to certify that the above conditions are being met.**

* excluding adaptations and sales being completed by an executor on behalf of the deceased owner.

** applies only to grants for home extensions/conversions for the provision of standard amenities.