The Home Repair Assistance Regulations 1996

• Citation: S.I. 1996/2887
• Sections: 34

Section 1 Citation, commencement and interpretation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Home Repair Assistance Regulations 1996 and shall come into force on 17th December 1996.

(2) In these Regulations—

“assistance”(except in regulation 4) means home repair assistance

“property” means a dwelling, house-boat or mobile home.

Section 2 Making applications for assistance

(1) All applications for assistance shall be in writing and shall contain the information specified in Part I of Schedule I.

(2) An application for assistance made in respect of a house-boat shall contain the information specified in Part II of Schedule I.

(3) An application for assistance made in respect of a mobile home shall contain the information specified in Part III of Schedule I.

Section 3 Dealing with applications for assistance

Applications for assistance shall be dealt with in accordance with Schedule 2.

Section 4 Applications of Regulations

These Regulations shall not have effect in relation to applications for assistance for minor works under section 131 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 made before these Regulations come into force.

Section 1

The name and address of the applicant.

Section 2

The date of birth of the applicant.

Section 3

Whether the applicant is disabled or infirm.

Section 4

Whether the applicant or his partner is in receipt of income support, family credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit or disability working allowance.

Section 5

Whether the works are to adapt a dwelling to enable an elderly, disabled or infirm person, who lives or proposes to live in the dwelling as his only or main residence, to be cared for.

Section 6

The address of the property to which the application relates.

Section 7

Whether the property is a renewal area.

Section 8

Whether the property is a dwelling, a house-boat or a mobile home.

Section 9

Whether the applicant lives in the property as his only or main residence.

Section 10

Whether the applicant—

(a) has an owner’s interest in the property;

(b) is a tenant; or

(c) occupies the property under a right of exclusive occupation granted for his life or for a period of more than five years.

Section 11

Where the applicant is a tenant, confirmation that the applicant is not a tenant of an authority or body mentioned in section 3(2) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (authorities and bodies not eligible to apply for grants under Chapter 1 of Part I of that Act).

Section 12

Where the applicant occupies the dwelling under a right specified in paragraph 10(c) of this Part (except where the property is in a renewal area or the works are for a purpose described in paragraph 5 or 14 of this Part), whether the applicant has occupied the property as his only or main residence for a period of at least three years immediately preceding the date of the application.

Section 13

A description of the works.

Section 14

Whether the works relate to means of escape from fire or other fire precautions.

Section 15

Confirmation that the applicant has a duty or power to carry out the works.

Section 16

The name and address of the person who will carry out the works.

Section 17

An estimate of the cost to the applicant of the works and, if the works are to be carried out by the applicant, the cost of the materials to be used in carrying them out.

Section 18

Confirmation that the works are not, so far as the applicant is aware—

(a) works for which a grant under Chapter I of Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 has been approved or for which an application for a grant is pending; or

(b) works which are specified in a group repair scheme approved under Chapter II of that Part or prepared and awaiting the approval of the Secretary of State.

Section 19

Details of the amount or value of any home repair assistance given in respect of the property in the period of three years immediately preceding the date of application.

Section 20

The signature of the applicant or his agent.

Section 21

Whether the house-boat qualifies as a dwelling for the purpose of payment of council tax.

Section 22

Whether the applicant is in lawful occupation of the house-boat.

Section 23

Where the purpose of the works is not one specified in paragraph 5 or paragraph 14 of Part I, whether—

(a) the applicant has occupied the boat as his only or main residence for a period of at least three years immediately preceding the date of the application;

(b) the boat has for that period had its only or main mooring in the same locality on an inland waterway or in marine waters within the boundary of the local housing authority applied to; and

(c) the applicant had a right to moor his boat there.

Section 24

Whether the mobile home qualifies as a dwelling for the purpose of payment of council tax.

Section 25

Whether the applicant is in lawful occupation of the mobile home.

Section 26

Where the purpose of the works is not one specified in paragraph 5 or paragraph 14 of Part I, whether—

(a) the applicant has occupied the mobile home as his only or main residence for a period of at least three years immediately preceding the date of the application;

(b) the mobile home has for that period been on land forming part of the same protected site within the meaning of the Mobile Homes Act 1983 ; and

(c) the applicant occupied the mobile home under an agreement to which that Act applies or under a gratuitous licence.

Section 1

As soon as practicable after receiving an application, and in any case within six months from the receipt of the application, the local housing authority shall by notice in writing inform the applicant whether or not they propose to give assistance.

Section 2

If the authority propose to give assistance, they shall state the nature and value of any materials they intend to provide and the amount of any grant they intend to make.

Section 3

If the authority do not propose to give any assistance they shall inform the applicant of their reasons for not doing so.

Section 4

The authority shall carry out such inspections of the works or obtain such certificates from the persons carrying them out as are necessary to ensure that they are carried out to a reasonable standard.