| In more than one instance you get warned about free | | | | income housing in designated neighbourhoods. These |
| grants for home improvement programs and over and | | | | types of grants for home improvement are known to |
| over again told that no such thing exists as free grants. | | | | cover most of the above mentioned exterior and |
| With extended and thorough research you will find | | | | interior improvements. In addition financial assistance is |
| ample grants focusing on home improvement alone. | | | | provided by means of mortgage assurance and the |
| The free part of it applies to low and medium income | | | | subsidising of mortgage payments. |
| homeowners. Grants can be obtained and loans at | | | | Some of the most generally used types of grants for |
| zero-interest. Part of the criteria for these "free" grants | | | | home improvement are: |
| or loans is that it is needed for health and safety | | | | - Deferred Payment Loans - You are provided with a |
| purposes. | | | | no-interest loan that does not have to be paid back |
| There are various loans and grants available, but in | | | | until you sell the house or the property is transferred to |
| general grants for home improvement covers: | | | | a new owner. The maximum amount available for |
| - Improve and renovate the exterior structure of the | | | | each individual application is $20 000 for the first year |
| house to the building requirements that is currently | | | | and up to $35 000 for each year thereafter. |
| applicable. This are improvements such as the roof, | | | | - Leveraged Loans - For this type of grant there are |
| sidings, better water and sewage systems, doors and | | | | some reasonable income eligibility guidelines to meet. |
| windows, extending your house and measures to | | | | As with the Deferred Payment Loans, very similar |
| make your home more easily reached for disabled | | | | repairs relating to health and safety qualify for this |
| and handicapped persons. | | | | program. When opting for leveraged loans, you need |
| - Improvements relating to the interior of the house | | | | to provide half of the money needed for cost of the |
| such as alterations to fix the roof and sidings in events | | | | repairs or renovations and loan program will supply the |
| where there is major reason for concern regarding | | | | other half. It is also only paid back when you sell the |
| your family unit's health and security. Grants for home | | | | property or it is transferred to a new owner. The |
| improvements relating to the interior of the house also | | | | maximum to be matched with home improvement |
| refers to the electrical and water supply systems. | | | | program funds is $17 500. |
| - There are specific grants for home improvements | | | | - Emergency Grant - The focus of this home |
| available if you are interested in renovating or | | | | improvement grant is restricted to health and safety |
| converting your existing property into low income | | | | risks that needs immediate attention to low income |
| housing. Programs of this nature are usually offered by | | | | homeowners. Being a grant, no repayment structure is |
| the government in order to better the availability of low | | | | applicable. The maximum grant award is $1,500. |