View report page

122
Improvement Grants.
The Housing Acts, 1958 - 1964 provide for Local Authorities
to make grants for the conversion or improvement of dwellings.
Two types of grant are available, the "Standard" Grant, which,
subject to compliance with the Act, can be claimed as a right,
and the "Discretionary" Grant, in the use and extent of which the
Council, as the title implies, has a discretion. The Council
decided to make both standard and discretionary grants to applicants
as appropriate.
The maximum amount of Standard Grant is 50% of the cost
incurred of carrying out the works reasonably required to provide,
for the first time in a house, all or any of the following standard
amenities, subject to the following limits:-
£
A fixed bath or shower in a bathroom 25
A wash hand basin 5
A hot and cold water supply at a fixed bath
or shower 35
A hot and cold water supply at a wash hand
basin 15
A hot and cold water supply at a sink 25
A water closet if practicable in and
accessible from within the dwelling 40
A satisfactory food store 10
Where it is impracticable to provide a bathroom in any way
other than by more extensive works of construction, the Housing
Act, 1964 allows the Council to substitute in the table above a
figure higher than £25 based on half the estimated costs of providing
a bath in a bathroom, subject to an overall upper limit
of £350 grant.
The Council must approve a grant provided that the facilities are
for the exclusive use of the occupants of the dwelling,; that the
dwelling will be fit for human habitation on completion of the works
and with normal maintenance will be likely to remain so fit for not
less than 15 years; and that the applicant has a freehold interest
or leasehold interest of which not less than 15 years remain
unexpired.