Consultation on Housing Renewal Assistance Policy (HRA) 2026

A Housing Renewal Assistance (HRA) policy, is a formal document adopted by a local authority under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) England and Wales Order 2002 (RRO). It sets out how the council will use its discretionary powers to provide financial or practical assistance, to improve housing conditions in its area. The policy aims to:

• Target limited resources to those most in need (such as vulnerable households, low-income families, disabled residents)
• Improve private sector housing conditions and reduce dangers
• Support health, safety, and independence, including reducing hospital discharge delays
• Align with local priorities, such as tackling fuel poverty and empty homes.

We are reviewing our current HRA policy and want to hear your views. To take part, please complete our short survey which includes questions about:

• our draft aims – the goals that support how we deliver the HRA policy and underpins our work
• increasing the limit for funded works provided to certain groups to account for the rising cost of adaptations. We fund works, without checking income and benefit entitlement up to £8,000. For the groups below we propose to increase the £8,000 limit:
  • those protected by the Walsall Armed Forces Covenant
  • applicants referred by Walsall Society for the Blind
  • people with a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
  • palliative cases
• increasing the £3,000 limit for minor works, such as straight stairlifts, to account for rising adaptation costs. We currently do not apply a test of resources when costs are below £3,000.
• setting up a separate project for early preventions. This includes small adaptations to prevent slips, trips and falls, and assist with hospital discharges. This would mean for eligible customers, works up to £300 could be completed quicker. This could include items such as key safes and grab rails.
• continuing to offer a discretionary 5-year warranty and service for new Mandatory DFG grants provided through the Council Agency Service or approved framework contracts. This applies to vertical lifts, stair lifts, step lifts, and wash-dry toilets, as long as resources allow.

This consultation is now closed. 

You said, we did

246 survey responses were received. Results from the survey and feedback from focus groups support the key principles of the Policy and the proposed changes which feed into the procurement process. 

The final policy was approved by Cabinet on 18 March 2026 - the full report can be viewed under agenda item 21.