Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

8 Renovation grants: certificates required in case of owner’s application

(1) A local housing authority shall not entertain an owner’s application for a renovation grant unless it is accompanied by an owner-occupation certificate or a certificate of intended letting in respect of the dwelling to which the application relates or, in the case of a conversion application, in respect of each of the dwellings to be provided.

(2) An “owner-occupation certificate” certifies that the applicant—

(a) has or proposes to acquire a qualifying owner’s interest, and

(b) intends that throughout the grant condition period he or a member of his family will live in the dwelling as his (or that member's) only or main residence.

(3) A “certificate of intended letting” certifies that the applicant—

(a) has or proposes to acquire a qualifying owner’s interest, and

(b) intends that throughout the grant condition period the dwelling will be let or available for letting as a residence (and not for a holiday) to a person who is not connected with the owner for the time being of the dwelling.

In paragraph (b) “letting” does not include a letting on a long tenancy.

(4) In subsection (3) references to letting include the grant of a licence to occupy premises.

References in this Chapter to tenants and other expressions relating to tenancies, in the context of a certificate of intended letting, shall be construed accordingly.

(5) Where section 10 applies (prior qualifying period in certain cases) a local housing authority shall not entertain an owner’s application for a renovation grant unless it is also accompanied by a certificate specifying how the requirements of that section are met.