Housing Assistance Grants

Private Sector Housing can assist in improving the living conditions of owner - occupiers. This is carried out through the award of housing assistance mainly repayable loans to eligible applicants for work to their property. The work can be improvements, for example, the provision of hot water for the first time, or repairs such as a new roof or a new damp - proof course.

All applicants are subject to a financial means test, and are targeted at properties in the poorest conditions. 

The council aims to keep the waiting list to an acceptable level but there is a limited budget. Any enquiries for housing assistance from householders over 55 years of age are referred to Papworth Trust Home Solutions (telephone 01702 346941). They will provide guidance as to possible alternative means of privately funding such work. (This may, for example, be by way of equity release or from charitable sources).

The current Housing Assistance system responsible for offering loans or grants is under review and the Council is unable to receive any new enquiries in this respect until after the review is completed.

In the meantime, anyone not eligible to obtain assistance from Papworth Trust Home Solutions may contact Southend-on-Sea Floating Support on 0845 602 7895 to see whether they are able to offer any advice.

Contacts are currently being made with the central government CLG department to confirm whether funds are still available to assist existing applicants for Healthy Home Loans and Southend Energy Grants. These loans and grants will be funded through a partnership project with other councils in the Thames Gateway Sub Region and Climate Energy Ltd (a specialist energy efficiency company.)

Additional information about the Thames Gateway Sub Region works can be found in the Community Housing section.

Further Information

For further information about Housing Assistance until the new Housing Assistance Policy has been confirmed, but contact the Grants Administration Officer.

To view the Housing Assistance Policy and a step by step guide of what happens once an Housing Assistance application is submitted please go to the Related Downloads section. 

For further information contact Private Sector Housing.