The Scheme of Assistance for private housing is relevant to home owners, private tenants and private landlords. It was introduced by Falkirk Council on 01 April 2010 to help with:
The Scheme of Assistance will help to deliver the Council's private sector housing strategy, the aims of which include improving conditions and enabling more disabled people to live independently.
Eligibility and criteria for assistance
Details of eligibility and criteria for assistance in the Falkirk Council area are included in the Section 72 Statement of Assistance (PDF, 759KB).|
The Statement of Assistance is a document published under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. It describes how the Council will assist with adaptations and repairs or improvements to private housing during the period 2011-16. It also contains useful contact details of other organisations that may be able to help with adaptations, repairs and improvements to private housing.
Adaptations for people with a disability
Help is available for private tenants and home owners to adapt a house to make it suitable for a disabled occupant.
In the first instance, a Needs Assessment| should be carried out by Social Work Services.
After a Needs Assessment has been done, help is available from the Care & Repair service| to organise the adaptation work and to apply for a grant.
A short leaflet is available about grants for adaptations: Help with adaptations to your home: a guide for disabled people in private housing in Scotland (PDF, 68KB)|.
Information about funding adaptations to your home is available for Home Owners (PDF, 404KB)| and Private Tenants (PDF, 377KB)|.
More details about the Scheme of Assistance for adaptations are available in the Section 72 Statement of Assistance (PDF, 759KB)|.
For more information about Adaptation Grants, please contact the Private Sector Housing Section using the details listed in the "Contact Us" section.
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Repairs, maintenance and improvements to private housing
Background
The Scheme of Assistance replaced the previous grants scheme from 01 April 2010 as a result of changes introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
It aims to help more home owners to meet their repair and maintenance obligations and to improve energy efficiency standards. It places a greater emphasis on preventing disrepair than the former grants scheme, to help bring about a sustainable improvement to housing quality over time.
Community consultation during 2009 has identified the following priorities for assistance in the Falkirk Council area:
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Work to meet the Tolerable Standard
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Work required by a statutory Work Notice served by the Council
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Lead Pipe Replacement
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Communal Repairs in blocks of flats
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Other work
Information, Advice and Assistance
Home owners and private landlords can request information, advice or practical assistance with any of these issues by contacting the Private Sector Housing Section using the details listed in the "Contact Us" section.
Information leaflets:
Grants for repairs and improvements
Local Authorities are no longer obliged to provide grants to home owners for repairs or improvements. In the Falkirk Council area, grants will still be available in limited circumstances, resource permitting.
For more information about Grant Funding, please contact the Private Sector Housing Section using the details listed in the "Contact Us" section, as limited resources may restrict the range of work for which grant is available.
More details about the Scheme of Assistance for repairs and improvements are available in Section 3 of the Section 72 Statement of Assistance (PDF, 759KB)|.
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Further information on help with Repairs, improvements and adaptations is available on Shelters website|.