The Housing Renewal Grants Regulations 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations apply to main grants for the renewal of private sector housing under Chapter I of Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (“the Act”).

Part I of the Regulations begins with interpretation (regulation 2). Regulation 3 provides for the exclusion of “persons from abroad”, as defined by housing benefit rules, from eligibility for grant. Regulation 4 permits local housing authorities to obtain, in the case of landlord’s applications under section 31 of the Act, information from pension fund holders about pension or retirement annuity income foregone by the applicant (thereby mirroring regulation 31(3) to (8) for owner-occupier’s and tenant’s applications).

Part II sets out the means test for owner-occupier’s and tenant’s applications for renovation grant and disabled facilities grant within the meaning of section 30 of the Act (save for landlord’s applications for disabled facilities grant). The test applies also to tenant participants in a tenants’ application for common parts grant, by virtue of section 32(5) of the Act. The Regulations consolidate, with modifications reflecting recent changes to housing benefit rules and minor and drafting amendments, the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1994 (“the 1994 Regulations”).

The Part II means test differs from that contained in the 1994 Regulations in particular in that regulation 5 defines “relevant person” more narrowly in relation to disabled facilities grant applications, and that Chapter X of Part II (students) has been redrafted to take account of recent changes to the funding of higher education.

Regulation 48 provides that these Regulations shall not apply in respect of applications made before 17th December 1996 (the date on which these Regulations come into force).