Housing grants

Update to the disabled facilities grant process

The county-wide home improvement agency Mears - Safe at Home closed at the end of July 2017 so the Gloucestershire councils are working together give residents support and guidance to apply for a disabled facilities grant (DFG).

We will process grant applications with input from the Occupational Therapists who provide the specialist clinical advice. We are providing a directory of companies who can give advice on major adaptations.

Mandatory Disabled Facilities grant (DFG)

A disabled facilities grant (DFG) is a means-tested grant to help with the cost of home adaptations.

Cotswold District Council works with Gloucestershire County Council to provide DFGs to residents who have been assessed by an occupational therapist and are eligible for help.

To find out more about DFGs and how to apply, visit https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/disabilities/disabled-facilities-grants/

Grant assistance is available to give the disabled person more independence in and around their home and access to essential facilities. A grant up to £30,000 can be given. Adaptations range from ramps, stair lifts and replacing a bath with a shower to building a ground floor bathroom extension.

Council and housing association tenants

If you’re a Council or housing association tenant who needs minor adaptations such as grab rails you can request this work directly from you landlord.

Steps to request a Disability Facilities Grant

Step 1: Contact relevant Social Services helpdesk below to set up a visit and assessment by an Occupational Therapist

Grant assistance can only be considered once the council has received a referral from an Occupational Therapist so the first step to making a grant application is to phone the relevant helpdesk below and set up an Occupational Therapist assessment to see if they think adaptations would be necessary to meet the disabled person’s needs.

Helpdesk	Telephone	Email and website
Adult Social Care	01452 426868	Email: Adult Social Care team Website: Gloucestershire council social care
Children and families for disabled children up to 19 years	01452 426565	Email: Children's helpdesk Website: Gloucestershire council social care

Step 2: The Occupational Therapist will send the council a referral if they think adaptations are required to meet the medical needs of the disabled person

Step 3: The Grant officer will contact the applicant to start the application process

For more information please:

Discretionary grants

Warm and well grant

Warm and Well is managed by Severn Wye Energy Agency for the six Local Authorities in Gloucester. The Ecoflex scheme under Warm and Well is available to private tenants and home owners and:

aims to reduce fuel poverty and associated health problems and improve energy efficiency in the home
offers grants for insulation, boilers and heating
offers the Renewable Energy Incentive which include health issues related to damp and cold
offers advice on reducing debt and increasing income

To find out if you are eligible, please:

Phone an advisor Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0800 5003076
View the eligibility criteria in the statement of intent document

For more information please:

Visit the Warm and Well website

If you have any questions, please:

Email the Housing grants team

Relocation grant

In some cases if adaptations are too costly or not feasible, we may need to consider rehousing to a more suitable property. There is a discretionary grant available from the council that could help with relocation costs and/or purchasing costs of a new property. For more information about rehousing to a housing association property, please:

View the moving on/relocation grant information sheet
Visit the Homeseeker Plus website

Apply to be listed in the contractors' and agents directory

If you're a local contractor in Gloucestershire and would like to apply to be listed in the contractors' and agents directory for Gloucestershire please:

Fill in the Contractor and agent directory online form