Poor quality housing can have an adverse impact on the health
and well being of the occupants and the City of London is committed
to improving housing quality across all tenures including the
private sector. Although it is the Government’s view that the
primary responsibility to maintain a property must lie with the
owner, it is often the case that some homeowners, particularly the
elderly and most vulnerable, do not have the necessary resources to
keep their homes in good repair.
The Government made major changes to the way in which local
authorities can help the private sector when most of the existing
legislation to enable local authorities to give grants was stopped
in July 2003. In order to continue to provide assistance to the
private housing sector through the provision of grants etc. all
local authorities had to adopt a new policy setting out how it
wanted to provide this help.
The City of London’s new Private Sector Renewal Policy, which
covers properties in the Square Mile only, was designed
to simplify the types of grants previously available and ensure
that the limited resources are targeted effectively to the
properties and residents most in need of assistance. One of the
policy’s main aims is to make resources available in the form of a
grant to remedy properties that are unfit for human habitation and
in substantial disrepair where they are occupied by vulnerable
people. It sets out the types of assistance available to
owner-occupiers (long leaseholders who have purchased their home
under Right to Buy in the City are treated as owner occupiers),
landlords and tenants in the City and is summarised below. The
effectiveness of the new policy will be reviewed within one year
following consultation.
Further information
If, having read the summary, you would like further information
on any of the grants and an application form, including detailed
eligibility and grant conditions, please contact the
Project Officer on 020 7332 1792 or via
email.
In addition, a full copy of the policy can be seen at the City of
London offices at Guildhall between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00
pm Monday to Friday. Please note that grant may not be paid if the
works have been started, so please check before you start any works
if you think you may be eligible.
Availability in other formats
The City of London uses Language Line to provide translation and
interpreting facilities to provide the policy or the summary in
alternative languages. A copy of the summary is also available in
large print or Braille upon request.
Leaseholders who have purchased their home under Right to Buy
and live outside of the City of London should contact the local
authority in which they live for further details of the grants
available in their area.
Private Sector Renewal Policy downloads