Purpose

Councils across England are
required by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act
1996 to offer Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to people who
qualify. These grants are mandatory but they are restricted to
helping people with disabilities to adapt their homes to make them
accessible and more suitable for their needs. The funding for these
grants comes from central Government via the Better Care Fund. If a
Council wishes to offer financial assistance towards anything other
than DFGs they have to adopt and publish a Housing Assistance
Policy giving full details of the assistance they will offer to
householders in their area for property adaptation, improvement or
repair. Thanet District Council adopted such a Policy in 2019 and
this policy is now due for review.

Decision

Cabinet agreed the following:
 
1. 
The consultation draft of the Housing Assistance Policy is
approved;
2. 
The Council conducts a public consultation on the draft policy;
3. 
The results of the consultation be published on the Council’s
website;
4. 
Following consultation any minor amendments be approved by the Head
of Housing & Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder
for Housing.