Grants and loans
Homes that are in serious disrepair or require major adaptations can have an impact on your health and welfare.
However, often the disrepair or adaptation can be of a minor nature but still be essential.
Some councils in Dorset may have limited amounts of money to help home owners, tenants or landlords carry out some works. Every year we each publish our own grants and loans policies (see below) which detail the types of grants and loans that we can give and who is eligible to apply for them. Whilst some of the grants and loans that are offered across Dorset are similar you will need to look at your own council's grants and loans policies. Details of how to access these are included at the bottom of this page.
All councils also offer help and financial assistance to support disabled residents to safety access facilities within the home.
Financial assistance
The range of assistance varies and may include some of the following;
A loan for larger scale works which could be up to about £15,000
A small grant for essential works up to about £1000
An energy efficiency grant to help with the cost of providing loft or cavity wall insulation up to about £1,000 and a new heating installations or improvements or help with 'topping up' Government Warmfront Grants up to about £6,000. Further advice on these grants can be obtained from the Dorset Energy Advice Centre (opens in a new window)
Landlords' grants to help with the cost of providing loft and cavity wall insulation and electrical safety reports and improvements when applying to become an accredited landlord
Empty property grants to help with the cost of works necessary to bring empty properties back into use. The maximum grant varies between each local authority but up to £15,000 per unit may be available to bring them back into use. Conditions apply that may require full tenant nomination rights for up to than 5 years.
Further Information
For further information please contact your Private Sector Housing Team at your local council.
Grants and Loan policies for councils in Dorset:
North Dorset District Council Housing Renewal Assistance (pdf, 125kb) (opens in a new window)
West Dorset District Council Private Sector Housing Policy (pdf, 255kb) (opens in a new window)
- Are you disabled and having problems safely accessing the facilities within your home?
A wide range of help is available to support people with disabilities to live more independently in their own homes.
- Wessex Home Improvement Loans
West Dorset District Council is working in partnership with Wessex Home Improvement Loans to help vulnerable home owners make vital repairs to their properties.
- Energy efficiency grants
Information about energy efficiency grants.
- Home Improvement agencies
More information about home improvement agencies.
