Private sector - house-proud scheme

The house-proud scheme is a private loan scheme run by the Home Improvement Trust and is available to homeowners who are aged over 60, and households with a disabled person.

Eligible homeowners can apply for a variety of loans to get repairs and adaptations made to their homes, to make them more comfortable, and remove any health risk posed by unfit, cold and damp housing conditions.

The council offers a house-proud grant to applicants who have taken out a house-proud loan. The grant assists with the set up costs of the loan, and a 50% contribution towards the cost of the works (maximum grant paid is £6,000). But we can only offer the grant to an applicant if:

• their home is unfit for human habitation,and
• they have owned or occupied their homes for at least 5 years,and
• they have the duty to carry out the works to the property, or the duty to contribute towards the cost of the works.

Typical repairs, improvements and adaptations you can get house-proud loans (and grants) for include:

• central heating
• electrical rewiring
• a new bathroom
• a new roof
• replacement windows and doors
• a refitted kitchen
• home security features
• help toward major works bills for leaseholders.

Further information & how to apply

• For an information pack and video about the scheme, call the Home Improvement Trust free on 0800 783 7569.

or

• You can contact our private housing improvement team for information and advice about how to apply

or

• You can download a house-proud scheme information leaflet (pdf 621K) and an application form for the house-proud grant (pdf 67K).