Housing Grants

·        Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability

·        Housing Aid for Older People Grant

·        Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme

Housing Grant Unit Rates

 Overview

Housing Grants are available from Leitrim County Council to eligible applicants as follows:-

(a) The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability is available to assist in the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment. 

 (b) The Housing Aid for Older People Grant is available to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Leitrim County Council may pay a grant for the carrying out of necessary repairs or improvements to a house where, in our opinion, we consider the repairs or improvements reasonably necessary to make habitable the house for the lifetime of the occupant.

(c) The Mobility Aids Housing Grant is available to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily, but not exclusively, associated with ageing.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Housing Aid for Older People Grant and the Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme are administered by the Housing Section of Leitrim County Council and funded 80% by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and 20% by Leitrim County Council’s internal resources.

Means Testing

All applications under the three schemes are assessed on the basis of total household income.

Household Income

Household income is calculated as the property owner’s annual gross income in the previous tax year, together with that of his/her  spouse/partner, if applicable, and that of any other adults living in the house i.e. those over 18 (or over 23 if in full-time education)

All applicants are required to include, with their application, proof that they are compliant with the Local Property Tax.

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability is available to assist in the carrying out of works that are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment. The types of works allowable under the Scheme include the provision of access ramps, downstairs toilet facilities, stair-lifts, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access, extensions and any other works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability.

The suite of works approved will be limited to the works which are considered absolutely necessary. The grant approval will also be limited to works to the rooms which are specifically occupied by the eligible applicant (i.e. applicant’s bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom). Works to additional rooms which may be proposed will have to be funded by the applicant.

No extension works will be approved unless all less costly and ‘fit for purpose’ alternatives have been considered and eliminated e.g. reassignment of existing rooms, etc.

It is a requirement of the Scheme that the OT report confirms that the works recommended are fit for purpose and meet the essential housing adaptation needs of the applicant.

External works which may be considered are limited to the provision of ramped access to the dwelling, handrailings, limited footpath works in conjunction with ramps and the provision of water and sewerage facilities where none already exist. Works to driveways, gardens, site boundaries, provision of play/fenced areas etc cannot be considered. 

Applications will not be considered from persons who have previously been grant aided for similar works in respect of another property.

Applications for grant assistance under this scheme, where a grant has been paid previously under this scheme, or under the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme or under the predecessor to these schemes, (i.e. Disabled Persons Grant Scheme), will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances and where the applicant’s needs have changed substantially over time. The applicant will be required to outline in detail his/her case in this regard before an application will be considered. In any case where a further application is accepted the combined level of grant aid (i.e. current and previous grants) that can be considered will not exceed the €30,000 maximum grant limit under the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme. 

The Regulations provide that applications may be prioritized for grant assistance on medical or mobility grounds and 3 general levels of medical priority have been identified as follows:

Level of Grant - Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability

The level of grant aid available shall be determined on the basis of gross household income and the approved cost of the works as assessed by Leitrim County Council. The table below sets out the level of grant available based on an assessment of household income. 

Housing Adaptation Grant Unit Rate

Housing Aid for Older People Grant

The Scheme of Housing Aid for Older People Grant is available to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out.  Leitrim County Council may pay a grant for the carrying out of necessary repairs or improvements to a house where, in our opinion, we consider the repairs or improvements reasonably necessary to make habitable the house for the lifetime of the occupant.

Age Limit

The person for whom the grant is sought must occupy the house as his/her normal place of residence and be aged 66 years  of age or older.

Prioritisation on the basis of medical need

Applications will be prioritised for assistance on the basis of the medical needs of the applicant and on the urgency and necessity of the identified works.

 Level of Grant -Housing Aid for Older People Grant

The level of grant aid available shall be determined on the basis of gross household income and the approved cost of works as assessed by Leitrim County Council. The table below sets out the level of grant available based on an assessment of household income

NOTE:

Grant aid can only be considered for the first installation/provision of water and sanitary services i.e. grant aid is not available for upgrading any existing services/facilities

Grant aid can only be considered for the provision of central heating where none already exists. Where an existing boiler is deemed to be beyond repair the replacement of the boiler only may be considered in exceptional circumstances. No other heating upgrade works can be considered under this scheme.

Works such as the repair/replacement of windows and doors will be approved only where the existing are in poor condition, and such approval will be subject to maximum limits for this type of works as set out in the Unit Rates.

Contract cleaning and painting works will be considered in very exceptional circumstances only.

Applicants applying to carry out rewiring must enclose with their application, written confirmation from a qualified electrician stating the condition of the existing wiring.

Applicants applying to carry out roof repairs/replacement will be required to submit with their application, written confirmation from their insurance company that such repairs are not covered by their existing insurance policy.

Housing Aid for Older People Grant Unit Rates

Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme

The Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme is available to fast track grant aid to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily associated with ageing, in order that recipients are not subject to delays in accessing works. The works grant-aided under the Scheme include: grab rails, access ramps, level access showers, stair-lifts and any other minor works as may be necessary to facilitate the mobility needs of the applicant.

Household Income:

Household income is calculated as the property owner’s annual gross income in the previous  tax year , together with that of his/her spouse/partner, if applicable, and that of any other adults living in the house i.e. those over 18  (or over 23 if in full-time education) .

Level of Grant -Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme

The effective maximum grant is €6,000 or 100% the cost of the works, whichever is the lesser. The grant is available to households whose gross annual household income does not exceed €30,000.  Maximum Grants will only be approved in very extreme cases of medical need.

Mobility Aids Housing Grant Unit Rates

The Council’s objective in relation to the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Housing Aid for Older People Grant and the Mobility Aids Housing Grant Schemes is to ensure that appropriate grant funding is awarded to eligible applicants who are most in need of assistance.

An Single Application Form (covering the three seperate grant schemes) is now available and can be downloaded from the following link:-

Application Form – Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability.pdf (size 437.7 KB)

Foirm Iarratais – Deontas um Oiriúnú Tithe do Sheanóirí agus do Dhaoine faoi Mhíchumas.pdf (size 404.9 KB)

If you have any queries with regard to the above Housing Grants please contact:-

Housing Department

Leitrim County Council

Aras an Chontae

Carrick on Shannon

Co. Leitrim.

Telephone No. 071 9650426

E-mail:  housing@leitrimcoco.ie