Home energy help for residents

Home Improvement Agency

Our Home Improvement Agency (HomeKey+), previously known as the Home Assistance Hub, is delivered by ForHousing. This service is provided across the borough with the aim of supporting people with continued independence in their home.

The Home Improvement Agency (HIA) supports older people, people with disabilities or those on low incomes to repair, improve or adapt their homes. The HIA offer Home Safety Grants and Decent Home Loans.

Home Safety Grant

Home Safety Grants are available to homeowners to carry out urgent repairs where there is a serious risk of harm to the occupier (i.e. new boilers). The grant is only available where no other grant funding or financial assistance is available. Applicants are subject to the following eligibility criteria:

• applicant has an owner’s interest in the property
• category one hazards present (bands A and B)
• maximum £5,000 subject to means testing
• grant must be repaid if applicant moves within five years.

Decent Homes Loan

Decent Homes Loan can help with essential repairs such as roof work, used to fund heating systems, insulation measures or to update kitchen and bathroom facilities. Funding can also be used to remove any serious hazards such as serious dampness, dangerous stairs or electrical wiring which could affect health and safety.

This means-tested equity loan is available from £1,000 to £40,000 for homeowners on low income who need to improve their home to bring it up to the government’s ‘Decent Homes Standard’.