Housing Grants in Scotland

This factsheet briefly outlines the housing grants available in Scotland and also tells you where you can find out more information.

You can get grants for repairs and adaptations to properties in Scotland from your local authority/council if you are an owner or private tenant. Details of these grants are set out in the Scottish Executive booklet Housing Grants - An applicant's guide to improvement and repair grants for private housing, available from your local authority or from the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk. This website also offers an online housing grants calculator.

In most cases it is up to the council to decide whether or not you get a grant. Each council may have their own guidelines to decide which types of work have priority for funding. You should contact your council for details of their local policy.

Compulsory grants

Councils must must give you a grant (within the limits of its budget) for the following types of work:

• installing any standard amenities, where the house does not already have them. Standard amenities are:
1. a fixed bath or shower with a hot and cold water supply;
2. a wash-hand basin with a hot and cold water supply;
3. a sink with a hot and cold water supply;
4. a toilet.

• installing any additional standard amenities which are needed because a disabled occupant cannot use the existing ones. For example, if you have a toilet upstairs but cannot easily climb up the stairs, you can claim a grant to put in a ground floor toilet.
• any work which the council requires you to do if they have issued you with a statutory notice or order on the property.

Minimum percentage grants

Councils have to pay 50% of the cost of some repairs and adaptations. This is known as the minimum percentage grant. You can get a minimum percentage grant for:

• any work for which councils where you can get a compulsory grant, such as grants for standard amenities.
• work to bring a house up to the tolerable standard (this includes making the property structurally stable, free from damp, providing access to all external doors and outbuildings. It also includes providing satisfactory lighting, heating, ventilation, drinking water, cooking facilities and drainage, for rainwater and from kitchen and bathroom fittings.).
• making your house suitable for the accommodation, welfare or employment of a disabled person who lives, or plans to live there.
• any works to the common parts of a building in common ownership.
• the replacement of lead plumbing.
• work aimed at reducing exposure to radon gas.

If you are entitled to more than 50% grant, you will get the higher amount.

Discretionary improvement grant

You can get a discretionary improvement grant of up to £20,000, to make a house suitable for the welfare, accommodation or employment of a disabled person. If you get a grant the following must apply for a period of 5 years from payment of the grant:

• the house must only be used as a private dwelling house (although parts can be used for another purpose, eg for business)
• the house may not be used as a second or holiday home
• the house must, as far a possible, be kept in a good state of repair.

If the cost of the works exceeds the set grant limit and the local authority considers there are extraordinary reasons for this, it can apply to the Scottish Executive for an increase in the grant limit.

Care and Repair Forum Scotland

If you are aged 60 or over or have a disability, Care and Repair Forum Scotland (www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk) can give you advice and assistance to help you improve or adapt your home. You can get this service if you are an owner-occupier, private tenant or crofter.

Social Services

You may be able to get help with adaptations as part of a community care package from your local social services department.

Housing grants in the rest of the rest of the UK

For information about housing grants available in the rest of the United Kingdom (UK) see our Factsheet F49 - housing grants in england, northern ireland and wales and Factsheet F51 - disabled facilities grants.

Where can I get more information?

You can also find out more information about housing grants in Disability Alliance's Disability Rights Handbook, available to buy at www.disabilityalliance.org/drh33.htm.

You can obtain copies of our factsheets and publications by contacting Disability Alliance on  020 7247 8776 (voice and minicom) or by fax on 020 7247 8765.

April 2008