Grants and assistance
Disabled Facilities Grant
Grant assistance is available to adapt the homes of people with disabilities to enable or restore independent living. Disabled facilities grants (DFG) allow a range of essential adaptations. Typically, they fund:
- Stair lifts
- Replacing a bath with a flush floor shower commonly called a ‘wet room’
- Improving access into and around the home
Homeowners, private tenants and housing associations can apply. Please be aware that:
- Disabled facility grants are for adaptations that meet the needs of the applicant as recommended by an Occupational Therapist. They are not for repair or renovation works.
- We do not offer funding for works carried out before we have approved a grant application
Also, where possible, we deliver energy efficiency measures and hospital discharge assistance that will assist residents to live in their home to reduce health impacts on them.
Find out more about DFG and how to apply.
Your energy costs
We know that many of our residents, especially those on low incomes or with vulnerabilities can face living in cold, poorly insulated homes. With the cost of gas and electricity going up now is the time to review your energy consumption.
Improving your homes energy efficiency may:
- Reduce the risk of illness, especially for the very young or elderly household members
- Reduce condensation, which can lead to mould in your home
- Reduce the effects of climate change
For many of the below options you will need to be on a low household income or claiming specific benefits, have a medical condition which makes you vulnerable to the cold and/or experience high heating costs due to ineffective insulation or heating measures. If you would like more information about any of the below or to check eligibility please contact our Private Housing Team on 01474 337184 or email energy.housing@gravesham.gov.uk
Insulation through the Energy company obligation
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
Through the funding available, we may be able to assist residents to insulate their homes to the current standard. The scheme is for homeowners and private rental tenants.
To discuss more, contact our Grant and Energy Officer by telephone 01474 337184 or email energy.housing@gravesham.gov.uk
For transparency, you can view the previous Statement of Intent.
Switching your energy provider
Since 2013 we promoted the collective switch scheme. Residents register their interest in an auction which takes place three times per year. Energy providers then bid for the custom and each resident who registered gets an offer of a competitive tariff to switch to which may benefit them.
Due to the rising energy wholesale prices, there have been changes to the collective switch process. There are currently no opportunities for saving money by switching energy provider.
iChooser, are an independent expert in group-buying energy and run Big Community Switch scheme. They provide information and monitor the energy market and are taking registrations for future potential auctions.
For more information and to register use the following links: