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Housing assistance

The Home Improvement Agency provides support to help people on low incomes make sure that their home meets the Decent Homes Standard.

What assistance is available?

  • Provide advice about the repairs your home needs
  • Share our accredited contractors list to help you find trusted contractors
  • Assistance to connect with local credit unions and charities who might be able to provide funding
  • Information about government energy-efficiency schemes
  • Loans to fund repair work

How am I eligible for a Housing Assistance Loan?

To be eligible for a Housing Assistance Loan you should:

  • Own your own home
  • Have lived in your own home for at least a year
  • Live in a property that falls below the Decent Homes Standard
  • Be unable to afford to carry out the work and have no savings
  • Be unable to obtain funding through high-street lenders

If I am eligible, how long will I wait to be provided with a loan?

  • The Home Improvement Agency is allocated funding by Sunderland City Council when it becomes available
  • There is a waiting list for this support. If you are eligible for funding, the Home Improvement Agency will inform you when the loan can be paid

How can I access Housing Assistance?

  • Contact us between 8.30am and 5.15pm, Monday to Thursday and 8.30am and 4.45pm on a Friday, on 0191 566 1451 to discuss your situation
  • Email [email protected] to request an information pack