Strategy and renewal

Adaptations for persons with a disability

For information on grant aid for adaptations to private sector housing and assistance for Council tenants, contact Housing Services, Strategy and Renewal, on 01752 307075 or 01752 307077.

Care and repair and handyperson service

Care and Repair is an agency supported by the City Council which provides advice and support to over-60's and disabled home owners improve and maintain their homes. The agency works closely with Housing Services Strategy and Renewal Division. For more information contact Care and Repair, 10 Adelaide Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, PL1 3JF, Telephone 01752 221933.

East End renewal area

The East End Renewal Area covers Cattedown, Coxside and Prince Rock and is an initiative to regenerate the area by improving housing conditions, environment, employment opportunities, leisure, community and health facilities.

The area office is based at 4 Mainstone Avenue. For details of housing grant availability or information on the various projects and opportunities in the area call at the office, telephone 01752 306525 or email eastend.office@plymouth.gov.uk.

Empty homes

Plymouth has a strategy for using long-term empty private sector homes. If you have an empty property the Empty Homes Officer can advise you on the available options for its occupation. The strategy is in three parts. To view it please see the documents table below.

For further information, see the Empty Homes page or to report an empty property, contact the Empty Homes Team on 01752 307550.

Energy efficiency and affordable warmth

For information and advice on the council's strategy for improving energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty contact the Home Energy Co-ordinator, Strategy and Renewal on 01752 307176.

Further details are available in the Affordable Warmth Strategy.

The Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre can also provide information on making your home more energy efficient and on discount schemes and other benefits available. Contact number 0800 512012 or visit the Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre website.

Grants

Grants are available for owner occupiers and tenants with responsibility for repairs and maintenance. Telephone 01752 307075 for more information or email decenthomes@plymouth.gov.uk.

Heat Devon and Warm Front Grants

For information on energy saving grants available contact the Home Energy Co-ordinator in Strategy and Renewal on 01752 307176 or Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012. Further information is available from the Devon Energy Advice website.

See also: Insulation and Heating grants and Energy Efficiency and Affordable Warmth.

Home maintenance advice

The private Sector Housing Team can give phone or email advice on maintenance issues. Visit our Home Maintenance Advice page for a copy of the Home Maintenance Booklet. You can also telephone or email the Private Sector Housing Team for a copy. It gives handy hints and helpful maintenance information on what to do, how to do it and how to prioritise. Please telephone 01752 307075.

House defects

If you believe that your property is dangerous or causing ill health, we may be able to assist you. We are able to offer advice and information to homeowners, private tenants and landlords. We also offer other assistance to vulnerable people in accordance with our assistance policy as shown below.

We always try to work with all parties to ensure the improvements are made. However, we take enforcement action when necessary to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of residents of Plymouth, where effected by housing conditions. For more information on enforcement please refer to our enforcement policy.

Please contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 307075.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

Properties occupied by more than one household and three or more people such as premises divided into bedsits or shared house can be inspected by the City Council under the Housing Act 2004. The definition of an HMO is complex, for further information see HMO definition.

The Housing Act 2004 requires that certain Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are licensed, this came into force on the 6 April 2006. Please see HMO Licensing page for more information.

There are minimum standards for issues such as the provision of facilities. The City Council has the power to inspect such properties, which are rented out by private landlords and can order work to bring them up to the required standard for occupation. As with all homes, Houses in Multiple Occupation are required to be safe and healthy. The risks of problems are increased by the way that they are occupied.

We are able to offer advice and information to both landlords and tenants. If you have any complaints please contact the Private Rented Team 01752 307075.

Housing Assistance Policy

Although it is the primary responsibility of home owners to maintain their properties, it is acknowledged that vulnerable people may not have the financial resources to keep their homes maintained. Local authorities, therefore, have a statutory responsibility to assess and improve private sector housing conditions, which extends to owner occupied and private rented accommodation.

A new Housing Assistance Policy provides a clear framework for providing financial assistance to owner-occupiers, qualifying tenants and landlords and a full copy or a summary of the policy can be downloaded below.

Insulation and heating grants

For information and advice on the Warm Front, Heat Devon and Healthy Homes grants contact the Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.

Further information is available from the following websites: Heat Project and Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.

Private sector housing

The Housing Services Strategy and Renewal division looks at housing standards in the private sector, including owner occupied and privately rented housing.

The division operates the Decent Homes Grants Scheme which helps home owners with costs. The scheme is targeted at those in greatest need ie the elderly and those on very low incomes and the team works closely with the Care and Repair Agency.

For private tenants, including those in houses in multiple occupation (ie flats and bedsits) advice on minimum housing standards is available and complaints about conditions will be investigated and action taken where necessary. The team liases with the Plymouth Housing Advice Centre on these matters.

Inspections on houses in multiple occupation are carried out. As a result of the inspection works may be necessary where the required standards of repair, facilities and fire safety are not met.

Advice and informal visits are also offered to private landlords who wish to improve the properties they own.

For more information contact: Housing Services, Strategy and Renewal, Civic Centre, Plymouth PL1 2AA. Telephone 01752 307075 or 01752 307077.

For details of the HouseLet scheme refer to the Empty Homes HouseLet Scheme page.

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