Citation, commencement and application

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Grants by Local Housing Authorities (Eligible Expense Limits) (No. 2) Order 1988, and comes into force on 1st September 1988.

(2) This Order applies to any application for an improvement, intermediate, special or repairs grant which is made after 1st September 1988.

Interpretation

2.-(1) In this Order-

"the Act" means the Housing Act 1985, and

"listed building" means a building which is for the time being included in a list compiled or approved by the Secretary of State under section 54 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971(2), and a reference to a grade is to the grade indicated in respect of a building in such a list.

(2) In this Order a reference to a dwelling which is a listed building includes a reference to a dwelling which is in or which is to be provided by the conversion of a listed building.

Standard amenities

3. The provisions of section 508(1) of the Act are varied by substituting the following table for the Table contained in that section-

Improvement grants

4.-(1) In relation to a dwelling of a description set out in Tables 1 and 2 below there are prescribed-

(a)for the purposes of section 472(2)(a) of the Act (conversion of a building of three storeys or more), the amounts set out in Table 1, and

(b)for the purposes of section 472(2)(b) of the Act (other cases), the amounts set out in Table 2.

(2) In Tables 1 and 2 below-

"category A" applies to any dwelling which on the date on which the application for the grant is approved is covered by one or more of the following descriptions:-

(a)it is in a housing action area;

(b)it is or forms part of a house in relation to which the local authority have served a notice under section 189(1) (repair notice in respect of unfit house) or section 264(1) (notice of unfit premises beyond repair at reasonable cost) of the Act and the relevant works consist of or include works which if executed would contribute towards rendering the house fit for human habitation;

(c)it is in need of works of repair of a substantial and structural character and the relevant works consist of or include such works;

(d)it is a dwelling for a disabled occupant and the relevant works consist of or include works needed to meet a requirement arising from the particular disability from which he suffers; and

"category B" applies to any dwelling other than one to which category A applies.

(3) In paragraph (2) a reference to a dwelling includes a reference to a dwelling which is to be provided by the conversion of a dwelling.

Intermediate grants

5.-(1) The amounts of-

(a)£4,850 in respect of dwellings in Greater London, and

(b)£3,450 in respect of dwellings elsewhere,

are prescribed for the purposes of section 481(2) of the Act.

(2) The amounts of-

(a)£485 in respect of dwellings in Greater London, and

(b)£345 in respect of dwellings elsewhere,

are prescribed for the purposes of section 481(3) of the Act as the amount to be multiplied by the number of standard amenities to be provided.

(3) The amounts of-

(a)£1,930 in respect of dwellings in Greater London, and

(b)£1,380 in respect of dwellings elsewhere,

are prescribed for the purposes of section 481(3) of the Act as the maximum to which the amount prescribed by paragraph (2), multiplied by the number of standard amenities to be provided, is subject.

Special grants

6.-(1) The amounts of-

(a)£14,000 in respect of houses in multiple occupation in Greater London, and

(b)£10,500 in respect of houses in multiple occupation elsewhere,

are prescribed for the purposes of section 489(3) of the Act as the maximum amounts of the contributory element as regards the provision of means of escape from fire.

(2) The amounts of-

(a)£4,850 in respect of houses in multiple occupation in Greater London, and

(b)£3,450 in respect of houses in multiple occupation elsewhere,

are prescribed for the purposes of section 489(4) of the Act as the maximum amounts of the contributory element as regards works of repair and replacement.

Repair grants

7.-(1) The amounts mentioned in paragraph (2) are prescribed as the limits of eligible expense for the purposes of section 497(1) of the Act in relation to the descriptions of dwellings set out in that paragraph.

(2) The prescribed amounts are:-

(a)in respect of a dwelling which is not a listed building, £7,600 where the dwelling is in Greater London and £5,500 where it is elsewhere;

(b)in respect of a dwelling which is a Grade I listed building, £8,600 where the building is in Greater London and £6,530 where it is elsewhere;

(c)in respect of a dwelling which is a Grade II* listed building, £8,200 where the building is in Greater London and £6,130 where it is elsewhere; and

(d)in respect of a dwelling which is a Grade II (Unstarred) listed building, £7,890 where the building is in Greater London and £5,820 where it is elsewhere.

Revocation

8. The Grants by Local Housing Authorities (Eligible Expense Limits) Order 1988(3) is hereby revoked.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Grants for the improvement, repair or conversion of a dwelling or a house in multiple occupation are made by local housing authorities under Part XV of the Housing Act 1985 ("the 1985 Act"). The amount, or in some cases the maximum amount, of a grant is the appropriate percentage of the estimated expense which is eligible to be taken into account.

The Order increases the limits of eligible expense for improvement, intermediate, special or repairs grants where an application for grant is made after 1st September 1988.

Article 3 of the Order raises the maximum eligible amounts for the provision of standard amenities specified in section 508(1) of the 1985 Act; the descriptions remain unchanged. The amounts are higher where the premises are in Greater London.

Article 4 of the Order increases the limits of eligible expense for an improvement grant. The amounts are higher where the premises are in Greater London or where the works are carried out to a listed building. Higher limits are prescribed in other specified circumstances.

Article 5 of the Order increases the element attributable to works of repair and replacement for an intermediate grant. The limits for this element are higher where the premises are in Greater London.

Article 6 of the Order increases the contributory element by reference to which a special grant is calculated where works include means of escape from fire or works of repair and replacement. The amounts are higher where the premises are in Greater London.

Article 7 of the Order increases the eligible expense limit for a repairs grant. The amounts are higher where the premises are in Greater London or where the works are carried out to a listed building.

The Order replaces the Grants by Local Housing Authorities (Eligible Expense Limits) Order 1988, which has not yet come into force.

Article 8 of the Order revokes that Order. The only substantive change is that the figure "5,500" is substituted for "5,000" in article 7; the latter figure was included by error.