Housing Act 1985

472 Improvement grants: limit on expense eligible for grant.

(1) Except in a case or description of case in which the Secretary of State approves a higher eligible expense, the eligible expense for the purposes of an improvement grant is so much of the estimated expense as does not exceed the limit determined under this section.

(2) The limit is the amount for the dwelling or, if the application relates to more than one dwelling, the total of the amounts for each of the dwellings applicable under the following paragraphs—

(a) for a dwelling which is provided by the conversion of a house or other building consisting of three or more storeys (counting the basement as a storey if all or part of the dwelling is in the basement), £2,400 or such other sum as may be prescribed, and

(b) for a dwelling which is improved by the relevant works or is provided by them otherwise than as mentioned in paragraph (a), £2,000 or such other sum as may be prescribed.

(3) In subsection (2) “prescribed” means prescribed by order of the Secretary of State.

(4) An order—

(a) may make different provision for different cases or descriptions of case, including different provision for different areas, and

(b) shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

(5) If the local housing authority are satisfied in a particular case that there are good reasons for increasing the amount of the limit, they may substitute such higher amount as the Secretary of State may approve; and his approval may be given either with respect to a particular case or with respect to a description of case.