Housing Act 1969

PART I — Financial assistance towards cost of improvements and conversions

Grants by local authorities

Improvement grants, standard grants and special grants

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• (1) Grants shall be payable by local authorities in accordance with the following provisions of this Part of this Act towards the cost of works required for—

• (a) the provision of dwellings by the conversion of houses or other buildings;

• (b) the improvement of dwellings ; or

• (c) the improvement of houses in multiple occupation by the provision of standard amenities ;

where the provision or improvement is by a person other than a housing authority.

• (2) A grant under this Part of this Act is in this Act referred to as—

• (a) an improvement grant, if the works are required for the provision of a dwelling or for the improvement of a dwelling not consisting or not wholly consisting of the provision of standard amenities which the dwelling lacks;

• (b) a standard grant, if the works are required for the improvement of a dwelling by the provision of standard amenities which it lacks ;

• (c) a special grant if the works are required for the improvement of a house in multiple occupation by the provision of standard amenities.

Improvement grants

Improvement grants

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• (1) A local authority may pay an improvement grant if an application therefor is made in accordance with this section and approved by them.

• (2) Such an application must contain particulars of the works and an estimate of their cost, and such other particulars as the Minister may specify.

• (3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, a local authority shall not entertain an application for an improvement grant if the cost of the works as estimated in the application is less than £100 or such other amount as may for the time being be prescribed.

• (4) Where, not more than three years before the making of the application, a standard grant was made in respect of the dwelling (or one of the dwellings) to which the application relates and the application contains a statement of the cost towards which the standard grant was made, that cost shall be deemed, for the purposes of the preceding subsection, to be added to that estimated in the application.

• (5) Where an application for an improvement grant relates to more than one dwelling then—

• (a) if the dwellings are to be provided by the conversion of a house or other building, the cost referred to in subsection (3) of this section is the cost of the works divided by the number of dwellings ; and

• (b) if the dwellings are to be improved, the cost referred to in subsection (3) of this section is so much of the cost of the works as is in the opinion of the local authority attributable to any one dwelling.

• (6) Subject to section 25 of this Act, a local authority shall not entertain an application for an improvement grant unless they are satisfied that the applicant has, in every parcel of land on which the works specified in the application are to be or have been carried out, an interest which is either an estate in fee simple absolute in possession or a term of years absolute of which not less than five years remain unexpired at the date of the application.

Conditions for approval of application for improvement grant

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• (1) A local authority shall not approve an application for an improvement grant if the works specified therein have been begun unless they are satisfied that there were good reasons for beginning the works before the application was approved.

• (2) A local authority shall not approve an application for an improvement grant unless they are satisfied that the dwelling or dwellings to which the application relates will provide satisfactory housing accommodation for such period and conform with such requirements with respect to construction and physical conditions and the provision of services and amenities as may for the time being be specified for the purposes of this section by the Minister.

Approval of application for improvement grant

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• (1) Where a local authority approve an application for an improvement grant they shall determine the amount of the expenses which, in their opinion, are proper to be incurred for the execution of the works specified in the application and shall notify the applicant of that amount; and the amount so notified is in this Part of this Act referred to as the approved expense of the works.

• (2) The approved expense of any works shall not allow for works of repair and replacement more than one-half of that expense or such other part thereof as may for the time being be prescribed.

• (3) Where the applicant satisfies the local authority that the works specified in the application cannot be or could not have been carried out without the carrying out of additional works and that this could not have been reasonably foreseen at the time the application was made the local authority may substitute a higher amount as the amount of the approved expense.

• (4) In approving an application for an improvement grant a local authority may require as a condition of paying the grant that the works specified in the application are carried out within such time (which must not be less than twelve months) as the local authority may specify or such further time as the local authority may allow.

Amount of improvement grant

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• (1) The amount of an improvement grant shall be such amount as may be fixed by the local authority when they approve the application for the grant, but shall not exceed—

• (a) one half of the approved expense of the works, nor

• (b) subject to subsection (3) of this section, the limit imposed by or under subsection (2) of this section.

• (2) The limit is the amount or, if the application relates to more than one dwelling, the aggregate of the amounts, applicable under the following paragraphs, that is to say.—

• (a) £1,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed, if the dwelling is improved by the works or is provided by them otherwise than mentioned in paragraph (b) of this subsection ; and

• (b) £1,200, or such other amount as may be prescribed, if the dwelling is provided by the conversion of a house or other building consisting of three or more storeys.

• (3) The limit imposed by or under subsection (2) of this section may be exceeded by such amount as the Minister may approve, if the local authority are satisfied in a particular case that there are good reasons for fixing a higher amount; and the approval of the Minister may be given either with respect to a particular case or with respect to a class of case.

• (4) For the purposes of this section, where an improvement grant is to be paid towards the cost of works required for the provision of a dwelling all or part of which is in the basement of a building the basement shall count as a storey.

Payment of improvement grant

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• (1) An improvement grant may be paid after the completion of the works towards the cost of which it is payable or part of it may be paid in instalments as the works progress and the balance after the completion of the works.

• (2) Where part of am improvement grant is paid in instalments the aggregate of the instalments paid shall not at any time before the completion of the works exceed one half of the aggregate cost of the works executed up to that time.

• (3) The payment of an improvement grant or of any part thereof shall be conditional upon the works or the corresponding part of the works being executed to the satisfaction of the local authority.

• (4) If an instalment of an improvement grant is paid before the completion of the works and the works are not completed within the time specified in subsection (5) of this section, that instalment and any further sums paid by the local authority as part of the grant shall, on being demanded by the local authority, forthwith become repayable to them by the person to whom the instalment was paid and shall carry interest at such rate as may be prescribed from the date on which it was paid by the local authority until repayment.

• (5) Where the local authority have specified no time under section 4(4) of this Act for the completion of the works the time referred to in subsection (4) of this section is twelve months from the date on which the instalment is paid or such further time as the local authority may allow; and where they have specified a time or allowed further time under section 4(4) of this Act the time referred to in subsection (4) of this section is the time so specified or allowed.

Standard grants

Standard amenities

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• (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section the standard amenities for the purposes of this Act shall be the amenities which are described in the Table set out in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act and conform to such of the provisions of Part II of that Schedule as are applicable.

• (2) The Minister may by order vary the provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act and any such order may contain such transitional or other supplemental provisions as appear to the Minister to be expedient.

Standard grants

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• (1) A local authority shall pay a standard grant if an application therefor is made in accordance with this section and approved by them and the works are executed to the satisfaction of the local authority.

• (2) Such an application must specify the dwelling and the works, and, where the works are for the provision of some only of the standard amenities, must also state whether the dwelling is already provided with the remainder.

• (3) A local authority shall not entertain an application for a standard grant with respect to a dwelling provided after 2nd October 1961.

• (4) Subject to section 25 of this Act a local authority shall not entertain an application for a standard grant unless they are satisfied that the applicant has, in every parcel of land on which the works specified in the application are to be or have been carried out, an interest which is either an estate in fee simple absolute in possession or a term of years absolute of which not less than five years remain unexpired at the date of the application.

Conditions for approval of application for standard grant

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• (1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a local authority shall approve an application for a standard grant if they are satisfied, and shall not approve it unless they are satisfied that, when the works specified in the application have been carried out.—

• (a) the dwelling will be provided with all the standard amenities for the exclusive use of its occupants; and

• (b) the dwelling will be in good repair, having regard to its age, character and locality, and disregarding internal decorative repair, and will in all other respects be fit for human habitation;

and that the dwelling is likely to remain fit for human habitation and available for use as a dwelling for a period of not less than fifteen years.

• (2) A local authority shall not approve an application for a standard grant if the works specified therein have been begun unless they are satisfied that there were good reasons for beginning the works before the application was approved.

• (3) Where the works specified in the application include works for the provision of a fixed bath or shower elsewhere than in a bathroom the local authority are not required to approve the application but may do so if otherwise they would be required or authorised to do so under this section.

• (4) Where, under the preceding provisions of this section, a local authority would be required to approve an application for a standard grant if satisfied that, after the works specified in the application have been carried out, the dwelling will be provided with all the standard amenities, then, if—

• (a) the application contains a statement, and the local authority are satisfied, that it is not practicable at reasonable expense to provide the dwelling with all the standard amenities, and

• (b) the local authority are satisfied that after the works specified in the application have been carried out the dwelling will be provided with the amenities included in the Table in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act as items 5, 6 and 7 and that item 7 will conform to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Part II of that Schedule,

the local authority shall approve the application notwithstanding that the dwelling will not be provided with all the standard amenities, unless they are satisfied that the dwelling is or forms part of a house or building in respect of which they have power to serve a notice under section 15 of the Housing Act 1961 or that section as extended by section 21 of that Act (power to require execution of works).

• (5) In considering for the purposes of the preceding subsection whether it would be practicable at reasonable expense to provide the dwelling with all the standard amenities, the local authority shall have regard to the estimated cost of the works which would be required for that purpose and the value which it is estimated the dwelling (or the building of which it forms part) would have if works to provide the dwelling with all the standard amenities were carried out.

• (6) Where the works specified in the application are to be carried out in compliance with an improvement notice served, or undertaking accepted, under Part II of the Housing Act 1964 and comprise the provision of a fixed bath or shower, then.—

• (a) if the fixed bath or shower is to be provided in a bathroom, the conditions stated in subsection (1) of this section shall, if otherwise satisfied, be deemed to be satisfied notwithstanding that the bath or shower is for the use of the occupants of more than one dwelling in a tenement block (within the meaning of Part II of that Act); and

• (b) if the fixed bath or shower is to be provided elsewhere than in a bathroom, this section shall apply as if subsection (3) thereof were omitted.

• (7) Subject to such general or special directions as may from time to time be given by the Minister, a local authority may approve an application for a standard grant notwithstanding that the conditions stated in subsection (1) of this section are not satisfied.

• (8) An order under section 7(2) of this Act may vary the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.

Approval of application for standard grant

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In approving an application for a standard grant a local authority may require as a condition of paying the grant that the works specified in the application are carried out within such time (which must not be less than twelve months) as the local authority may specify or such further time as the local authority may allow.

Amount of standard grant

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• (1) The amount of a standard grant made towards the cost of any works shall, subject to the following provisions of this section, be one half of that cost.

• (2) If any of the works are not exclusively for the purpose of providing one or more of the standard amenities, only so much of the cost of carrying out those works as is, in the opinion of the local authority, attributable to the provision of the standard amenity or standard amenities shall be taken into account under the preceding subsection.

• (3) There shall be a limit on the amount of a standard grant, which shall be determined in accordance with Part III of Schedule 1 to this Act.

Effect of standard grant on amount of improvement grant

Effect of standard grant on amount of improvement grant

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Where after the making of a standard grant in respect of a dwelling an improvement grant is made in respect of that dwelling, section 5(2) of this Act shall have effect, in relation to that dwelling, as if the sum specified in or prescribed under paragraph (a) thereof were reduced by the amount of the standard grant.

Special grants

Special grants

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• (1) A local authority may pay a special grant if an application therefor is made in accordance with this section and approved by them and the works are executed to the satisfaction of the local authority.

• (2) Such an application must specify the house and the works, and must state by how many households and individuals the house is occupied and with what standard amenities it is already provided.

• (3) A local authority shall not entertain an application for a special grant unless they are satisfied that the applicant has, in every parcel of land on which the works specified in the application are to be or have been carried out, an interest which is either an estate in fee simple absolute in possession or a term of years absolute of which not less than five years remain unexpired at the date of the application.

• (4) Part II of Schedule 1 to this Act shall apply for the purposes of the provisions of this Act relating to special grants as if paragraphs 2 and 3 and, in paragraph 1, the words from " except" onwards, were omitted.

Approval of application for special grant

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• (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section and to any general or special directions which may be given by the Minister for the purposes of this section, a local authority may approve an application for a special grant in such circumstances as they think fit.

• (2) A local authority shall not approve an application for a special grant if the works specified therein have been begun, unless they are satisfied that there were good reasons for beginning the works before the application was approved.

• (3) In approving an application for a special grant a local authority may require as a condition of paying the grant that the works specified in the application are carried out within such time (which must not be less than twelve months) as the local authority may specify or such further time as the local authority may allow.

Amount of special grant

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• (1) The amount of a special grant made towards the cost of any works shall, subject to the following provisions of this section, be one half of that cost.

• (2) If any of the works are not exclusively for the purpose of providing one or more of the standard amenities, only so much of the cost of carrying out those works as is, in the opinion of the local authority, attributable to the provision of the standard amenity or standard amenities shall be taken into account under the preceding subsection.

• (3) The amount of a special grant shall not exceed the sum arrived at by allowing for each of the standard amenities provided the amount specified for an amenity of that description in the third column of the Table set out in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act.

Contributions towards grants