Decision

To approve and publish the
Housing Assistance Policy 2025.

Reasons for the decision

Councils across England are
required by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act
1996 to offer Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to people who
qualify. These grants are mandatory but they are restricted to
helping people with disabilities to adapt their homes to make them
accessible and more suitable for their needs. The funding for these
grants comes from central Government via the Better Care
Fund. 
 
If a Council wishes to offer
financial assistance towards anything other than DFGs they have to
adopt and publish a Housing Assistance Policy - in line with the
Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order
2002 - giving full details of the assistance they will offer to
householders in their area for property adaptation, improvement or
repair. 
 
Thanet District Council adopted
a Policy in 2019,  and in 2025 it
was due for review. Following consultation, the Council is now in a
position to publish its 2025 policy. This applies to Thanet
residents, council officers, councillors, Contractors including
building companies and associated organisations (such as agents and
occupational therapists recommending and undertaking such works)
and other stakeholders with an involvement or interest in this
area.
 
The main focus of the
assistance is towards:

Schemes to improve the health and independence of
persons with disabilities, the elderly and those with long term
health conditions.

To enable more effective use of the mandatory
DFG.

To facilitate hospital discharge and reduce
“bed blocking.”

To reduce fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency
in peoples’ homes.

To encourage people to bring empty homes back into
use. 

 
A draft version of the Housing
Assistance Policy was presented to Cabinet in December, where it
was agreed to consult upon that draft. Amendments to that draft,
following careful consideration, can now be approved by the Head of
Housing and Planning. 

Alternative options considered

The
previous policy (2019) was out of date and it would not have been
possible to continue using that policy as it was out of date.
Additionally, some of the suggestions in the policy could have been
amended but these represent the best way of the Council spending
its grant allocation, which is the largest in the county,
reflecting the vulnerability of many households in the
district.