Date: 07/04/2008
High Peak Borough Council, in partnership with Derbyshire Dales District Council, has just been awarded £594,415 from the Regional Housing Board to continue the sub-regional Decent Homes programme.
The funding will be used to assist private home owners receiving 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. The funding will be split proportionately across the sub-region and will enable currently received applications to be processed.
The Decent Homes programme is a comprehensive service provided by the Borough Council 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.
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 home owners on benefits to bring their properties up to the Decent Homes standard.
"This additional funding is great news for residents in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales and means that we can process current applications and carry out further improvements. 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."
Councillor Simon Spencer, Chairman of the Partnership and Regeneration Committee added: "We are really pleased to have secured this grant, which will enable us to progress our Decent Homes programme."
Homeowners who receive benefits, and whose homes need repairs or improvements, who have not already applied for a grant, may contact High Peak Borough Council on 0845 129 7777 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.