Disabled Facilities Loans

• The applicant must have an application for a disabled facilities grant properly made with the council or be financially assessed as not eligible for grant assistance for certain works.
• The property will be the applicant’s only residence at the time the application is made and the applicant must live at the property and only own that property (the disabled person is not necessarily the applicant, they could be a family member). The applicant will be means tested and must have an assessed contribution of less than £20,000 or be in receipt of a means tested benefit.
• Shared ownership properties will require consent from the registered social landlord.

The loan is to help the applicant: 

• Fund the cost of their personal contribution towards for a disabled facilities grant.
• Fund additional works above the grant maximum.
• Fund replacement fixed equipment such as stair lifts or hoists where the original is broken and not able to be repaired.
• Works of a discretionary nature not covered by a disabled facilities grant that are deemed necessary by an Occupational Therapist.

Up to £20,000 of financial help is available to meet the contribution assessment or eligible cost of works plus the council’s legal fees in preparing the Loan Agreement.

• Interest is not payable on the loan
• The council will only consider payment towards agreed unforeseen work up to the loan maximum amount.  Any additional funding would need to be provided by the applicant
• The applicant must normally agree to the payment being paid directly to the builder. An exception to this is where the applicant has already paid the builder and payment is reimbursing the applicant
• Up to 90% of the loan may be paid by the council before completion of work, based on the amount of work completed.

The council will calculate the amount of grant to be paid in total and at any stage.

• A property owner must repay the loan when the property is sold.
• No monthly payments are necessary.
• The loan can be repaid at any time but must be repaid in full.

Test Valley Borough Council is the loan provider.

The applicant is entitled to one loan per property.

Financial advice or recommendation for this scheme will not be provided. Independent financial advice on the effect of this scheme should be sought by the applicant.

Subject to the council’s discretion

• All formal offers of financial assistance will be valid for 6 months.
• All approved applications will be valid for 12 months.

Where appropriate the loan will be secured against the property and lodged with his majesty’s land registry or the land charges register, whichever is applicable.