Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council assist qualifying residents in ensuring that their properties are up to a decent standard and are free of any defects that may lead to injury to residents or people visiting the property. The local authority will continue its partnership with the Anchor Staying Put Agency in delivery of housing initiatives to help keep elderly residents in their own homes and in conjunction with Cheshire County Council Social Services in the provision of disabled facility grants.

Below are brief details of the initiatives that have been approved by the Council, but if you would like to read further details, please click on one of the following documents: -

Executive Summary of the Private Sector Renewal Policy 2008. (PDF format)

Full copy of the Private Sector Renewal Policy 2008. (PDF format)

If you would like to comment please email housing@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

CREWE& NANTWICH BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCOUNT INSULATION (CANDI)

The grant is 50% of the cost of the work or a maximum of £100 per measure being paid to the owner of the property and will assist towards the cost of installing loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and/or solid wall insulation. If the owner is in receipt of an income-related benefit, which would attract grant aid from another source e.g. Warm Front or an energy utility, then they would have to go through those schemes first.

The Cheshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre deal with the residents on the CANDI scheme.

Also within the Borough, we will work with the Cheshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, energy utilities and energy contractors to provide extra measures including heating, to residents, who are unable to afford to have the work carried out and are also suffering ill-health due to the property being cold and damp (subject to assessment).

If a resident applies for a Warm Front Grant and has a contribution towards the cost of the work, we would allow a maximum of £300 top-up allowance.

Please contact the Cheshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012 for details.

DISABLED FACILITIES GRANT

These are available for the adaptation of a property to meet the recommended health needs of a disabled occupant. If you wish to find out more please contact the Independent Living Access Team in the County Council's Social Services on Telephone: 01606 815600. Alternatively, e-mail the access team at teamaccesscentral@cheshire.gov.uk

If you would like to read our leaflet please click here (PDF Format)

In some cases the Council will offer a relocation grant to help the applicant move to a property which is more suitable.

If you would like to read our relocation leaflet please click here (PDF format)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS GRANT IS LIKELY TO CHANGE DURING APRIL 2008

EMPTY HOMES GRANTS

There are three types of grant available.

The Purchasers Long Term Empty Property Grant is available only to Registered Social Landlords, not private individuals.

The Empty Homes Grant is available to anyone. Up to £1000 is payable to carry out approved work and is paid when the property is reoccupied. The property has to have been empty for more than 6 months at time of application. No grant is available towards work which has already been carried out.

If you are a landlord applying for this grant you will need to ensure that the property meets the standard required for compliance with the Property Accreditation Scheme, once completed. You can read more about the Property Accreditation Scheme by clicking here.

If the property is a house in multiple occupation particular attention should be paid to fire precautions and other facilities. You can see our advisory standards by clicking here.

If you would like to read our leaflet please click here (PDF format)

If you wish to download the forms to apply for a grant please click on the links below to get the relevant forms.

·         Empty Homes Grant Application Form (pdf)

·         Empty Homes Grant Ownership Certificate (pdf)

·         Equal Opportunities form (pdf)

·         Application Notes (pdf)

The Landlords Long Term Empty Grant is available to assist private sector landlords in renovating dwellings that have been empty for at least 12 months and are classed as having at least one Category One Hazard, under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

A 5 year tenancy must be offered to the local authority and the rent will be determined by the Rent Officer Service and/or the Local Housing Allowance. The amount of assistance offered will be determined by the market demand for the type of accommodation being provided. The property, when completed, must meet the Decent Homes Standard and must be suitable for letting.

If you require an application form please telephone 01270 537777 or email housing@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk, or you can download them here. 

LLTE Grant Application form (pdf)

LLTE Grant Ownership form(pdf)

LLTE Grant Conditions(pdf)

LLTE Grant Claim form(pdf)

HOME IMPROVEMENT ASSISTANCE

Home Improvement Assistance is discretionary and can be made available for the repair or adaptation of a dwelling and it is only available to homeowners who over 18 years of age or are for the benefit of a disabled occupant, if the works are to assist with the disabled persons independence and are a member of the household. 

All Home Improvement Assistance will be based on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and there must be at least one Category One hazard within the property to qualify. The nature of these hazards would likely lead to further damage to the building fabric or cause injury to the occupants if not dealt with.

There will be a means test carried out on all applicants, unless they are in receipt of Income Support / Guaranteed Pension Credit/Housing Benefit/Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Council Tax Benefit. The maximum assistance available is £25,000. Also as part of the application process a property valuation and a mortgage statement (if necessary) must be obtained.

Assistance will be granted if the work cost is more than the affordable loan (calculated by the means test) and that there is sufficient free equity within the property. It should be noted that a full house survey must take place and all works required must be detailed at that time.

The assistance will be subject to a secured registered charge being put on the property. The monies will become repayable when the property is either sold, transferred in name, the property no longer becomes the applicants’ main residence or the applicant chooses to repay the money.

The Head of Housing has the discretion to approve a higher value and also to defer repayments until a future agreed event in time. Repayment will be based either on the market value of the property or the bank of England Bank Lending Rate, whichever provides the least increase.

Unfortunately our Home Improvement Assistance Application Forms are not currently available on-line - Please e-mail housing@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk to request that a copy be forwarded or sent to you

If you would like to read our leaflet please click here (PDF format)

COMMON SUPPLY PIPE REPLACEMENT

A small grant of up to £150 or 50% of the cost (whichever is the least) is available towards the replacement of shared, lead water supply pipes. There is a very limited fund and grants are issued on a first come, first served basis.

To apply for the grant you will need to return to this office:

1.       A completed Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council application form (click here to download a form).

2.       A letter from United Utilities confirming that you qualify for their "common supply pipe replacement scheme".  This is to ensure the rest of your supply pipe from the outside stopcock and the main water supply pipe in the road is also replaced.  You can contact United Utilities on telephoning 0845 746 2200.

3.       A quotation for carrying out the works from your contractor.

If you require more details please email housing@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk or telephone 01270 537777.

For a link to the United Utilities pages on replacement of lead supply pipes click here