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Housing

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Whether you’re a tenant in the social sector or private sector, or if you have a mortgage, it’s important that you talk to your landlord or bank at the earliest opportunity if you think you will have difficulty paying your rent and bills, as they may be able to help you.

You could also be entitled to the following to help with your housing costs:

Discretionary Housing Payments:  These can provide extra money when your local authority decides that you need extra help to meet your housing costs on top of what benefit support you already receive through the DWP (Department of Work & Pensions).

To get a Discretionary Housing Payment, you will need to either already be receiving the old scheme Housing Benefit or the housing contribution element through Universal Credit.

In addition, the Homelessness Prevention Fund can help people to keep their existing accommodation or assist with access alternative accommodation.

To find out if you are eligible for a discretionary housing payment or support from the Homelessness Prevention Fund contact Monmouthshire Council on 01633 644644  https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/housing/

Citizens’ Advice:

Citizens’ Advice can provide good advice on your right to a secure home. National advice number: 0300 330 2117 or contact your local office (details on monmouthshire.gov.uk/money-advice )

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/

Support to stay in your home:  

Monmouthshire Council’s Housing Support Team aim to help anybody who might be at risk of losing their home for any reason and can provide advice, liaise with your landlord or mortgage lender, or sometimes even provide financial help.  The team can also help you to deal with the reasons behind you struggling to pay your rent or mortgage – such as mental health worries or difficulties accessing the financial support that you’re entitled to.

To contact the team telephone 01633 740730 or email housingsupportservice2@monmouthshire.gov.uk You can find more information on how the team can help by visiting Monmouthshire.gov.uk/housing-support

Home Improvement Loan

The scheme, offered by Monmouthshire County Council in partnership with the Welsh Government, provides interest free loans to help with the costs of renovating a property. It is available to owner occupiers, owners of empty properties who wish to live in the property themselves, landlords, property developers and charitable organisations.

Applicants should contact the Council for more information and an Expression of Interest Form (EoI) on the contact details below. On receipt of the EoI we will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time to meet you at the property for a site visit.

Please note that any offer of a loan is not guaranteed until you have received formal approval from the Council.

Interest Free Loans

  • The minimum loan amount is £5000 up to a maximum of £35,000 per unit of accommodation.
  • If the loan does not cover the full cost of the work, evidence of adequate finance to ensure that the scheme is financially viable will be required.
  • All loans are subject to loan to value (LTV) ratio of 80/20.
  • The loan and any existing borrowing secured against the property will be considered for the loan to value ratio calculation.
  • All loans will be interest free, however an administration charge will be applied. This fee may be added to the amount of loan applied for or paid up front.
  • All loans will be secured as a first or second charge against the Land Registry Title.
  • Repayment terms will be agreed on a case by case basis, over a period up to a maximum loan term of 7 years for owner occupiers.
    • Landlords, developers and charities will be required to repay the loan within a maximum loan term of 5 years.
  • In certain circumstances, the Council may offer a Property Appreciation Loan (PAL) where an applicant fails the financial assessment and improvements are required to make the house “safe, warm and secure”.

Any works you undertake prior to receiving approval will be at your own cost

For more information please go to Home Improvement Loan Scheme.

Or contact Clare Hamer, Strategy and Sustainable Living Manager.

Email: clarehamer@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Telephone 01633 644407

Housing Associations:

If you are a tenant of a social landlord in Monmouthshire – such as Melin, Monmouthshire Housing Association, Pobl or United Welsh – you can access help and support with:

  • Employment advice
  • Debt advice
  • Tenancy Support
  • Budgeting
  • Benefits Advice
  • Advice on utilities
  • A one off hardship payment

Contacts for each of the larger housing associations in Monmouthshire are:

Pobl: contact@poblgroup.co.uk 01633 212375

Monmouthshire Housing Association:  0345 677 2277 or moneywise@monmouthshirehousing.co.uk

Melin: moneyadvice@melinhomes.co.uk or 01495 745910