Home improvement grants
Our goal is to improve the quality of housing, promote independent living and provide support for those in need. There is financial assistance available to qualifying homeowners, private tenants, and tenants of registered providers.
Disabled Adaptations Grant
This grant can be used to modify an individual's home environment to restore or enable independent living, privacy, confidence and dignity for individuals and their families.
The eligibility criteria are:
- you or someone living in your property must be disabled
- you or the person you’re applying for can own the property, or be a tenant (social housing or private let), but you must intend to live there during the "grant period" (currently five years)
- the requested adaptation must be "necessary and appropriate" to meet your needs
- the requested adaptation must be "reasonable and practicable" for your home environment
- you need to have an assessment by an Occupational Therapist
- not means tested for children
- means tested for adults for grants over £19,000
- for grants over £19,000, is subject to land charge and is repayable if the property is sold within five years of completion of the work
Applications up to a value of £30,000, are accepted for essential improvement works including:
- improving access to the home, e.g. ramps and half steps
- improving access and movement in the home, e.g. hoists and stairlifts
- providing suitable hygiene facilities, e.g. bathroom and toilet facilities
This grant cannot be given for work that is already in progress or that has been completed, you must apply for DFG funding before you start any work at your property.
To apply for this grant, you need to request an assessment by an Occupational Therapist.
For adults, either:
- phone 020 8708 7333
- complete the adult contact form
Referrals to the Occupational Therapy service for children and young people
Apply for Disabled Adaptations Grant
Disabled Facilities Top-up Grant (Discretionary)
This grant is currently not available.
A discretionary top-up payment can be made to a homeowner to assist with the cost of disabled adaptations that exceed the mandatory DFG limit. The maximum top-up grant is £30,000. A means test will be applied for top up assistance for both adult and children’s applications.
You cannot apply for this grant directly as it is offered as an addition to an existing DFG application.
Relocation Grant (Discretionary)
Where home adaptation is not appropriate, we can offer assistance with relocation costs to a more suitable property. This property must be free from Category 1 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and be adaptable to meet the needs of a disabled person, as required in the Disabled Facilities Grant.
Maximum assistance available is £10,000. There is no means test for this grant and no repayment conditions, it can cover:
- legal costs
- estate agent’s fees
- removal costs
- essential utility and service set up costs.
An individual who receives relocation assistance will not be entitled to a similar claim for a period of 10 years. Receiving this grant does not prevent applicants applying and potentially receiving grants and assistance from other schemes in this policy.
You cannot apply for this grant directly as it is offered as an alternative to DFG application when the home cannot be adapted.
Safe and Secure Grant - SSG (Discretionary)
This grant is currently not available.
This grant will assist property owners to improve the security of their properties to prevent a burglary. Any assistance available will be targeted in areas where there is a known high burglary rate or there are indications that it could become one. Grants are available up to a maximum of £5,000 per property for approved security measures including:
- works to provide a communal intercom door entry system or door entry system providing it includes all lets.
- window and door locks
- approved door viewers
- letterbox shrouds (stops ‘key fishing’)
- fencing to secure entry from gardens
- London and Birmingham bars (strengthens the door frame against 'kick-in' attack.)
- repairs or modifications to stairs, floors, and steps
To be eligible for a grant the applicant must:
- have owned and occupied the property for the last 3 years
- be over 65 years old or registered disabled; or
- have someone over 65 years old or registered disabled living in the property with them
For enquiries:
Empty Property Grant (Discretionary)
The empty property grants offer owners funding to carry out repairs to bring the property back into use.
- Property must be empty for over 6 months.
- Additional terms and conditions apply.
Handy Person Scheme (Discretionary)
For a small charge, the scheme assists older, vulnerable, and disabled residents with odd jobs and small-scale repairs around the home.
The service is available to all Redbridge residents who are:
- aged 60 years or over
- disabled or have a long-term serious illness or health problem which makes it difficult to carry out the work
- awaiting discharge from hospital
- offers up to 4 visits in a 12-month rolling period
- Small charges apply based on qualifying benefits
- Additional eligibility criteria apply
This service is contracted out to Home Energy Efficiency Training (HEET). For more information, visit the HEET webpage or call the Handyperson Scheme number, 020 8520 4554. You may also make enquiries directly through the HEET using the online referral form.
Please note: The Handyperson service will cease on the 29 January 2025. Appointments will need to be booked in advance of this date.
Energy Efficiency Grant (Discretionary)
The aim is to provide energy efficiency in privately owned homes in the borough with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G, through the installation of low-carbon heating improvements.
Email: Housing.Standards@redbridge.gov.uk for additional information, or to make an enquiry about an energy efficiency grant.
Policy
To ensure that people are treated fairly, and we are working to improve the quality of housing for everyone, we have published our policy and a summary of assistance.
