A few useful tips you should know about housing grants.

Here are some things you will need to consider and ponder before going through the housing grant process. Make it easier on yourself by following these tips

• Completed applications must include certain things. When you fill out your housing grant application you have to follow the strict set of rules that go along with it - or accept getting your application thrown away. Outside of a completed application you will need to include: at least two builders' estimates, plans of proposed alterations, documents (copies) which show your income, savings and benefits packages and an estimate of the professional agent's fees. Depending on the grant and the lender you may need to include: proof of ownership, proof of building regulation consents, certificate of future occupancy and evidence of how long you have lived there.





• Depending on your grant it could take up to an entire year to process. The housing grant application process isn't always a speedy one, although it sometimes can be. It could take between a month and a year to process; so be prepared to wait. Council's try to either approve or disapprove a grant within six months but it can sometimes go longer.



• The Council which is looking over your grant application looks at a few things before handing it out. Housing grants are not just given out freely, they go to people who have met certain standards and have shown themselves fit for the grant. The Council will look at: Whether your type of works qualifies for grant help, how long you have lived at your home, whether or not you need a professional agent to plan your application's specifics, ECT.



• Grants are not given if a home is too new. Some people try and get housing grants for their five year old house and get denied quickly. The basic rule of thumb is that you can only get a grant if your home is over ten years old. You also can't get a grant if the works have already started on the site.





• Five years is the lucky number for homeowners. Unless you plan on living in the home for at least another five years you won't even be considered for a grant. If you aren't the owner you will need your landlord's permission before you send in your grant application. Also, if you do plan on selling the home within five years you will need to inform the Council.



• Grants aren't just for inside the house, they are for outside as well. Many people get it in their head that housing grants can only be used for indoor things but many people use the grants to do work outside the house. You can do work such as adding lighting fixtures, improving your drainage system or giving yourself a better piped water supply.



• The grant costs are more then just the grant itself. Grant costs include building costs, agent's fees, application fees and any other fees that are included in the process.