Housing renewal assistance policy 2026 - 2030: 1. Introduction - 10.3 DFG inflationary assistance – discretionary funding
As stated above the current statutory DFG maximum is £30,000. The council is mindful that this has not been reviewed or increased nationally for many years and that there has as a result been an inflationary pressure upon the ability of households to undertake adaptations within this level. As a result, it has agreed (until the national statutory maximum is increased) to whilst resources permit to offer discretionary assistance to increase this maximum. This is not an increase in statutory maximum but a discretionary increase agreed by the council to help mitigate the pressures of increased labour and materials costs. The DFG Inflationary assistance will remain at the total discretion of the Council and will be to a maximum value of £5,000 per scheme. Applications for this assistance will be considered on a case by case basis and in light of the resources available to the council to offer assistance. Assistance will only be provided in exceptional cases. It will not in any situations ‘help’ with cases where the contractor’s quotations are considered by the Service to be ‘excessive’ in price.
If / when the statutory DFG maximum is increased by government the inflationary top up will cease / be reduced depending upon the level of increase introduced. For example, if the statutory DFG maximum is increased to £34,000 the Inflationary Top Up may still be available for a sum of up to £1,000.
Inflationary top ups will be reviewed on a periodic basis by the Service and amended in agreement by the relevant Executive Director and Portfolio Holder at the time. The decision to offer or amend rests solely with the Council.
DFG inflationary assistance - owner occupiers and private rented
It will operate as per the following table.
| Cost of DFG works | Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Under £5,000 | Statutory DFG | No land charge |
| Grant of between £5,001 and £30,000 | Statutory DFG | Land charge applied to maximum of £10,000 repayable upon the sale or relevant transfer for up to 10 years post grant completion |
| Works over £30,000 | Statutory DFG £30,000 | - |
| Up to £35,000 | Inflationary top up to £5,000 | Inflationary top up - land charge no time limit |
DFG inflationary assistance - social tenants
The Inflationary increase will be permitted as detailed above (with no land charge being applied). Costs in excess of this cannot be funded or considered and social tenants should look to their social landlord for support with:
- funding to contribute to the costs of the adaptation over the cost of £35,000.
- moving to a different dwelling that can be more readily adapted within the maximum statutory grant limit of £30,000.