Home improvements and grants

We offer limited housing-related grants to help with keeping you independent and improving your quality of life.

Disability facilities grants

These are grants to help disabled people lead a more independent life or achieve a better quality of life. They can provide items including stairlifts and hoists, ramps and rails, bathing adaptations and any improvements that we would deem helpful.

Am I eligible for a grant?

Clients are required to complete a Financial assessment.

The outcome of this test will determine the amount of money the client has to contribute to the cost of the work. This will vary from zero to the point where in effect they get no grant.

to request an assessment for an adult, call 01302 737391
to request an assessment for a child, call 01302 737391

Receiving the grant

How the award is worked out

if your income is less than your assessed needs you will not normally need to contribute to the cost of the works
if your income is more than your assessed needs, a proportion of your income will be used to calculate how much you could contribute towards the cost of the works
if this assessed amount is less than the cost of the works, the difference between the two is paid as a Disabled Facilities Grant

Maximum grant amount

The maximum amount of grant that a council is required to pay is £30,000 per application, less any assessed contribution from you. If the cost of the eligible works is more, the council can use discretionary powers to increase the amount.

Is the grant repayable?

If you receive a grant for more than £5,000, you may have to repay the grant (up to a maximum of £10,000) if you move home within ten years.

Discretionary Funding

The Council has a statutory obligation to administer mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to provide aids and adaptations to enable disabled residents to live independently within their own homes, privacy, confidence and dignity.

The following will allow assessed adaptations to be carried out in a timely manner, will have huge benefits not only for the Council in terms of fulfilling their statutory obligations but also enables vulnerable people to remain living independently within their home supported by existing community support networks; together with improving their quality of life.

Discretionary grant funding above the mandatory grant limit of £30,000 (top-up)

To authorise discretionary grant funding above £30,000 (top-up) where it can be established that the applicant is unable to fund the excess

A local land charge for the full amount of discretionary funding, will be placed on the owner occupied property for up to a ten year period in addition to any mandatory grant local land charge.

As this type of assistance is case specific, individual decisions will be subject to prior consideration by the Assistant Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Head of Service of Adults, Health and Wellbeing.

Assist with client contribution

In exceptional circumstances, provide assistance on a case by case basis, where the client has a contribution to pay towards the grant following a meant test, but they cannot afford to do so, and a genuine impact and hardship would be caused.

A local land charge for the full amount of discretionary funding, will be placed on the owner occupied property for up to a ten year period in addition to any mandatory grant local land charge.

Fund equipment/adaptations that fall outside the mandatory grant criteria

For equipment/adaptations that fall outside the mandatory DFG criteria, namely for children with challenging behaviours.

A local land charge for the full amount of discretionary funding, will be placed on the owner occupied property for up to a ten year period in addition to any mandatory grant local land charge.

For the above discretionary funding, each case will be individually judged on its own merits. In making a decision, the council will establish a full understanding of the applicant’s financial status taking into account the following, and be satisfied that it is reasonable considering the circumstances to fund the excess:

confirmation from a reputable high street bank that the applicant has been rejected a loan for the amount
the extent to which the applicant would suffer financial hardship were they to be required to fund part or all of the amount (evidenced by bank statements/other supporting information)
risk assessment carried to determine the result if the work did not go-ahead

Assistance with re-location costs

Rehousing to an adapted local authority, housing association or privately rented property, suitable to meet their identified needs, and assistance with relocation costs up to a maximum of £5,000. The alternative property must either be already adapted or be adaptable at a reasonable cost. The grant can be used towards the expenses involved in moving home.

Supporting quotes and/or invoices will be required and the grant can only be paid once the applicant has exchanged contracts with a legally binding completion date.

Extend expired warranty for equipment (Stairlift – Vertical Lift - Step lift)

Current warranty to be increased from 5 to 10 years

Note:

Discretionary grants are subject to funds being available and mandatory grants will be prioritised first.

Discretionary funding will be reviewed annually. Given the changeable nature of the demand, costs and funding of these applications it is important to note that any discretionary DFG grant may be withdrawn by the Authority at any time.

Home Improvement Agencies (HIA)

In Doncaster, there are a number of teams and organisations that could help you live independently by repairing, maintaining or adapting parts of your home. Support provided will have a positive impact on your physical and mental health, making you feel safer and secure in your home.

These services are often aimed at people who are older, have long-term health conditions or disabilities.

Please find the range of services that are on offer below and whether you may be eligible for support:

Housing Adaptations Service (Doncaster Council): This service is available to anyone with an identified need based upon health and/or disability. Adaptations can range from small items, such as grab rails and lever taps, to more major alterations.
Doncaster Repair and Support Service (Doncaster Council): Older and disabled people who cannot rely on any family or friends are able to access this service, although individuals must live in either private rented or council housing. If this is something that the landlord should fix, the team will not carry out the service. The service offers minor repairs and small maintenance jobs but residents must supply the provided repairperson with their own materials.
Affordable Warmth Team (Doncaster Council): This service is offered to homeowners with chronic, long-term health conditions (such as respiratory and cardiovascular conditions) and living in a cold home. The team will improve, install or replace heating/hot water systems if they are not working or cannot be repaired. However, they also offer support and signposting to anyone in relation to a warm home, energy efficiency and other wider guidance.
Home First Repair Service (Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust): The service aims to prevent hospital admissions and delayed discharge by offering a range of handy person services to address urgent issues in the individual’s home environment. Any professional involved in the intermediate care pathway is able to make a referral. Need is determined on a case-by-case basis, but may include fitting key safes, stair rails or capping off gas appliances.
Council Housing Repairs (St. Leger Homes Doncaster): This is available for council house tenants. They may be able to help in a range of circumstances. First, for rapid repair works if referred by the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Second, on a case-by-case basis they may provide additional items such as external lights or sockets. Third, the team will provide a free two-hour repairperson service for new tenants, who have no one else to help them.