Date: 07/11/2007
High Peak Borough Council is spending £800,000 on two exciting projects that are making a significant contribution to improving the housing stock within the borough.
The projects follow successful bidding to the Regional Housing Board in 2006/07, and again in 2007/08. The funding is being used to assist private homeowners in receipt of benefits - and who cannot carry out essential repairs and improvements to their homes - to bring their homes up to the Decent Homes Standard that was introduced in 2004.
One project is helping those who purchased their Council property, and the other is aimed at all other private owners of dwellings within the High Peak.
The Borough Council is providing a comprehensive service by working in partnership with a host of other organisations, including High Peak Community Housing, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Walbrook Care and Repair, The Nottingham and Derbyshire Energy Advice Centre and Warm Front.
Visiting officers can carry out a home safety check, make referrals to Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service for a Fire Safety check and can also make a referral for a benefits 'health check' if the customer agrees. There have been several cases where people have been found not to be claiming all of the benefits that they are entitled to and have benefited from these checks.
Together with the capital contribution from the Council the total amount to be spent on improving peoples' homes is in excess of £800,000. To date 65 grant applications have been processed from those who have bought their previously Council-owned homes, and 43 grant applications processed for other privately owned homes, with a further 147 applications to process.
Councillor Andrew Bingham, High Peak Borough Council's Executive Member for Social and Community Development, said: "Supporting people is one of the Council's key aims, and that is why we are helping homeowners on benefits to bring their properties up to the Decent Homes standard. We want all of our High Peak residents, not just those in Council accommodation, to live comfortable and accessible homes that are in a state of good repair."
Homeowners who are in receipt of benefits, and whose homes are in need of repairs or improvements, that have not already applied for one of the grants, may contact High Peak Borough Council on 0845 129 77 77 for an application form. They may be eligible for some form of help - even if grant aid is not available. If they need any help in completing the forms someone will assist them.