Grants and loans for home repairs and disability adaptations

The home repairs and adaptations: financial assistance policy 2021-2026 (PDF, 410KB) sets out how we will support low income households to repair and adapt their homes.

Grants and loans (except Disabled Facilities Grants) are subject to there being funding available. Currently, there is no funding available for the Healthy Homes Loan, the Empty Homes Loan and the Targeted Regeneration Grant.

Disabled Facilities Grant

Grants are up to £50,000 for work to make homes more accessible for people with disabilities. Homeowners, tenants and people living with others are eligible to apply. They must be planning to stay in the home for the next five years.

Grants are means-tested, except where the adaptations are for someone under the age of 20 in full time education.

The Grant will pay for adaptations that meet one or more of the following criteria:

to make it easier to get into and out of the home
to make the home safe for the disabled person and other occupants
to provide access to, and within, the main family room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom (or washing facilities) or garden
to improve or provide a heating system, or to adapt heating or lighting controls
to improve access and movement around the home for a disabled carer

The Grant will only pay for adaptations that are necessary and appropriate, and are the most cost effective. An occupational therapist will carry out an assessment. Sometimes people want to do something different with the Grant; you can top-up the grant to carry out extra works, so long as the adaptations meet the needs identified by the Occupational Therapist.

Information needed for the means test

We will need a copy of your most recent award letter if you receive one of the following welfare benefits:

pension credit guarantee
housing benefit
child tax credit or working tax credit (with an assessable income of no more than £15,050)
income based job seekers allowance
income related employment and support allowance
income support
universal credit.

If you don't receive any of these welfare benefits, we will need to see evidence of all income, savings, capital and relevant outgoings.

By income we mean all earnings, pensions, disability benefits, carers benefits, maintenance payments, rental income from tenants or lodgers, student grants and loans, and any other payments that you receive.
By savings we mean all bank, building society and post office accounts, cash savings, premium bonds, stocks and shares, and any other investments.
By capital we mean any land, property or businesses that you own.
By relevant outgoings we mean contributions to student grants and loans and child care charges.

There isn't an upper limit of income or savings to qualify for a grant - for every means test a set of allowances is built up based on individual circumstances; if your income is above your personal allowance, then the amount of grant that will be offered to you will be reduced and you will have to pay for some or all of the work. You can use the adapt my home means test calculator to find out how much, if anything, you might have to pay towards the work.

Home adaptations for people with disabilities

The orbitas handyperson service is a good source of help for small adaptations such as grab rails, handrails and key safes.

For help with larger adaptations such as stair lifts, walk-in showers and ramps, a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is available. To find out more about these grants, visit the disabled facilities grants page.

The independent living loan can be used to top up the DFG.

We offer a disability relocation grant for disabled people needing to move a more suitable home.

Help with heating and hot water

You may be able to get a grant or a loan to help make your home warm and cut your fuel bills. See help with heating your home.

Home repairs

There is no funding available for help with home repairs.

Search for home adaptation services

Contact us

careandrepair@cheshireeast.gov.uk.

Page last reviewed: 30 November 2023