Advice for Older or Disabled People Wishing To Stay In Their Own Home

• If you have lived in your own home for a long time you probably have plenty of equity around you.

• You may be experiencing difficulty in funding repairs that are essential to your well-being and comfort in your home.

• Using the equity you have as security, there are various ways available for you to raise the funds required.

Maturity Loan

• This is an interest only mortgage arranged through many Banks or Building Societies, whereby you only repay the interest, the capital amount is discharged when the house is sold.

• As you are only repaying the interest on the loan this can work out much cheaper than repaying capital and interest.

Roll-on Mortgage

• If you own your home outright you can raise funds to do repairs and improvements and NOT MAKE ANY REPAYMENTS.

• The minimum loan is around £15,000.

• When the house is sold the interest is calculated and added to the capital - then the whole amount is discharged.

• Once your home has been repaired/improved this could increase the value of your home which could help pay off the loan when the house is sold.

How do I apply for one of these loans?

• Telephone or call into one of the Banks or Building Societies in the town, ask for an appointment with the Manager. You can say "The Council have suggested I call". There are no hard and fast rules, each case is based on its own merits.

What do I do if I do not understand about the loans?

• Ask to speak to an interviewer in the Housing Advice Centre who will be pleased to give you all the help and guidance you need.

I do not really want to borrow any money - but how can I have the repairs or improvements done?

• Sometimes there are Home Renovation Grants available - so call into the Housing Advice Centre and ask for Taunton Deane's guide to grants available.

Are you elderly or disabled?

• There are many aids and adaptations available that could help you. For example, if you find difficulty in climbing the stairs to reach the bathroom you could get grant aid to help install a stair lift, or alternatively the provision of a toilet or shower on the ground floor.
  

• If you are in a wheelchair you could receive help in the form of a grant to widen doorways; to lower working surfaces in the kitchen; to provide ramps to front and rear doorways, etc.
  

• If you are in receipt of certain benefits you may be able to have a grant to insulate your roof space.
  

• For further information contact the Council's Housing Advice Centre and ask for details.

How do I go about arranging a grant?

• Firstly, contact your occupational therapist (if you don't know who it is, the Resource Centre will be able to tell you.)at:

       who will arrange to visit you in your home and assess the situation.

• If she supports your request she will write into the Council and request that the Grant Officer visits you.

• Do not worry the Grant Officer is very understanding and will guide you through your application. Providing he is happy the work has been completed properly he will also arrange for the grant money to be paid to you or direct to the contractor if that is your wish.
  

• Here at the Council we will endeavour to see that your application is dealt with as quickly as possible and with the least amount of worry to you.
  

Can I get help with Council Tax

• Yes. Those on low income can apply to Taunton Deane Borough Council's Housing Benefit Section.

Are you living alone in Taunton Deane?

• If you live in your own home and perhaps your family live away from the town you might like to think there is someone you can call on in time of need or in the case of emergency.

• There is help on hand for you in the form of the "DEANE HELPLINE" Service. This is a two-way speech communication over long distances, which links the caller with a 24 hour Control Centre. For further information contact the Deane Helpline Control Centre, Kilkenny Court, Cheddon Road, Taunton TA2 7QL. Telephone 01823 257185.

• Taunton Deane Borough Council will try to do all that is possible to help you to remain happy, secure and comfortable in your own home.

Opening hours are:-
Monday to Thursday - 8.30am - 5.00pm (interviews 9.00am - 4.30pm)
Friday - 9.30am - 4.30pm (interviews 2.00pm - 4.00pm)