Housing grants and loans

Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)
The DFG is available to home owners, private tenants and housing association tenants, this grant will help provide adaptations in your home to enable disabled people to stay independently in their own homes.

The grant is based on a test of financial resources, which is an assessment of how much money you may, or may not have to pay toward the cost of the works. Home owners can also get help from a Flexible Home Improvement Loan should the total cost exceed the maximum limit you are entitled to.

Prior to arranging an assessment you may wish to contact our Home Improvement Agency who can advise if you are eligible for the grant and also help with any benefits you may be entitled to, please call us on 01993 861000.

Eligible works may include, but are not limited to, providing the following:

stair-lifts
level access shower facilities
ground floor bedrooms
ramps
door widening
kitchen alterations

For more information see the brochure:

Home adaptations guide

How to apply
You will be required to have an assessment of your needs by an occupational therapist who will then refer you to us. You can arrange for an assessment by contacting:

Oxfordshire County Council's Social & Health Care Service
Telephone: 08450 507666
Alternatively you can ask your GP to arrange a referral through an occupational therapist for you.

Flexible Home Improvement Loan
This loan is for home owners aged 60 or over. It can be used for essential repairs to your home, upgrade your heating system or allow you to splash out on a newly refurbished bathroom. It can also be put towards a Disabled Facilities Grant should the total cost of the grant exceed the maximum limit you are entitled to.

The loan is a form of equity release mortgage, without all the bad things you hear. It is flexible because it can be repaid at any time, without penalty, either by regular monthly payments, occasional payments or no payments at all. The loan can be paid in full when the house is sold or the owner ceases to occupy it.

Interest is chargeable at a low rate
£80 documentation and registration fee for loans from £1,000 up to £100,000
£15 annual charge for administration and statements
Your mortgage provider may make a charge to provide us with information
If you decide to engage a solicitor, additional charges will almost certainly apply

All the above fees can be added to the loan. When the loan is eventually repaid there is a flat fee of £50.00 for cancellation of the registered charge.

To find out more see our:

Flexible Home Improvement Loan leaflet
call us on 01993 861000

Further help
The Home Improvement Agency also run a small repairs service, helping older and disabled people to live independently in their own homes, works include: