236 Power of local authorities to make improvement grants.S
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, a local authority may give assistance by making an improvement grant in respect of—
(a)works required for the provision of houses by the conversion of houses or other buildings;
(b)works required for the improvement of houses.
(2)Subject to subsection (4), in this Part—
(a)“improvement”, in relation to a house, includes—
(i)alteration and enlargement, and
(ii)in relation to a house for a disabled occupant, the doing of works required for making it suitable for his accommodation, welfare or employment;
(b)any reference to works required for the provision or improvement of a house, whether generally or in any particular respect, includes a reference to any works of repair or replacement needed in the opinion of the local authority paying the grant for the purpose of enabling the house to which the improvement relates to attain a good state of repair,
and “improved” shall be construed accordingly.
(3)In this section—
“disabled occupant” means a disabled person for whose benefit it is proposed to carry out works in respect of which an improvement grant is sought;
“disabled person” means a person who is substantially handicaped by illness, injury or congenital deformity;
“house for a disabled occupant” means a house which—
(a)is a disabled occupant’s only or main residence when an application for an improvement grant in respect of it is made; or
(b)is likely in the opinion of the local authority to become a disabled occupant’s only or main residence not later than the expiry of a reasonable period after the completion of the works in respect of which an improvement grant is sought.
(4)Any reference in this Part to works required for the improvement of a house does not include a reference to works specified in a notice under section 162 (which empowers a local authority to require the provision of means of escape in the case of fire in a house in multiple occupation) or to works required in connection with works so specified.