Renewals Assistance for Landlords

What type of Renewals Assistance is available?
Landlords Renewals Assistance – Tenanted properties
Landlords Renewals Assistance – HMOs
Landlords Renewals Assistance – Vacant properties
Is the Assistance subject to any conditions?
Fire Safety and Energy Efficiency
How can I make an enquiry?

What type of Renewals Assistance is available?

There are three types:

Landlords Renewals Assistance – Tenanted properties
Landlords Renewals Assistance – HMOs
Landlords Renewals Assistance – Vacant properties

Renewals Assistance is discretionary and is subject to sufficient funding being available. Assistance is targeted at those in most housing need and all enquiries are prioritised under the Renewals Assistance Enquiry Priority Scheme.

Landlords Renewals Assistance – Tenanted properties

Landlords of tenanted properties that are unfit or in serious disrepair may be offered assistance at 50% up to £20,000 (subject to Council nomination rights for 5 years).

Please note, no assistance will be offered where the property commands a market rent. The rent charged must be substantially less than the market rent (charging less than 80% of the current market rent) for a period of at least 6 months prior to any application for renewals assistance.

Landlords Renewals Assistance – HMOs

Landlords of HMOs may be offered assistance at 60% up to £20,000

The grant will cover improvements to the property to the following standard:

Good standard of repair.
Provision of basic amenities.
Installation of satisfactory means of escape in case of fire and fire precautions.
Basic energy efficiency measures e.g. loft insulation, pipework insulation, draught proofing of external doors and widows and double-glazing where windows need replacement.

Landlords Renewals Assistance – Vacant properties

The Council has supported the policy of offering grant assistance to owners of vacant, unfit properties to encourage them to renovate and bring the properties back into the private rented sector.

In order to qualify for assistance the dwelling must be included within the Vacant Properties Register, have been vacant in excess of 12 months and be within Council Tax Bands A, B and C. It must also be in such a condition to be classified as a high priority case before assistance can be considered.

Landlords who satisfy the above criteria may be offered Renewals Assistance at 50% up to £20,000 (subject to Council nomination rights for 5 years).

Is the Assistance subject to any conditions?

Yes, including:

Tenanted properties must be unfit or in serious disrepair in accordance with the current fitness standard. Eligible works will be specified by the Council’s inspecting officer and may be of a higher standard than those required to satisfy the statutory provisions.
Renewals Assistance should not undermine the responsibilities of the landlord in maintaining their property. To this effect, where enforcement action is considered necessary by the Council:
Any applications for Renewals Assistance by the landlord must be made prior to the service of a notice to enforce the relevant fitness standard, otherwise no assistance will be available under this policy and a statutory charge [up to £300] may be made for service of notice.
Each time the property becomes vacant during the 5 year period of the grant conditions, the Council will retain nomination rights for the outstanding period of the grant conditions.
As a condition of Renewals Assistance, owners will be required to provide satisfactory thermal insulation and a suitable space heating system within the property, for which additional Energy House Assistance may be available.

Fire Safety and Energy Efficiency

Where there is an identified high fire risk under the Fire Safety Strategy 2003 assistance at 75% may be available to install a domestic sprinkler system.

Also, as a condition of Renewals Assistance, owners will be required to provide satisfactory thermal insulation and a suitable space heating system within the property, for which additional Energy House Assistance may be available.

Landlords may be offered 50% assistance for cavity wall insulation will be available where the property is tenanted. Where the tenant is vulnerable, 50% assistance may be available for cavity wall and loft insulation, and heating.

How can I make an enquiry?

You can obtain the relevant forms and details to register your enquiry by contacting:

Private Sector Housing

PO Box 875
Warrington
WA1 1WP
Tel: 01925 442425 Fax: 01925 442412 or email Privatesector@warrington.gov.uk

or call into our reception at:

Homelessness & Housing Advice / Private Sector Housing
theGateway
89 Sankey Street
Warrington
WA1 1SR

To request further information, please to go to the online forms section.

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