From time to time, all properties need repairs or maintenance carrying out. This may be for safety reasons, aesthetic reasons, or to increase efficiency and so reduce costs. Unfortunately property repairs and maintenance are often costly. There are however various monetary schemes and grants available to assist.

Home Improvement Agencies Scheme

This is a Local Authority scheme that provides assistance for energy efficiency measures and immediate essential repairs. These could be any repairs from a need for loft insulation to a need to repair holes in floor boards.

To qualify for this scheme, the applicant must be a homeowner (which may include private landlords). Tenants may also be eligible if they are renting privately and have maintenance obligations under their tenancy agreement.

The scheme is not means tested. However Local Councils have a limited budget and so those with low incomes who are unable to repair an unsafe property are likely to be prioritised on a greatest need basis. Speak to your Local Council about whether they run this scheme in your area and your likelihood of acceptance. You can also find out from this list on the Housing Care.org website

Equity Release Scheme

This is another Local Authority scheme. However you must be aged 65 and over to qualify and the scheme will only consider applications in respect of essential repairs.

This scheme essentially works as an interest free loan, allowing you to borrow a small amount of money against your home. It allows you to essentially obtain a second mortgage, but not have to repay any money until your property is sold (which could be after your death).

This option does however come with a warning: if you still have a mortgage on your property, it is advisable to discuss the current equity in your home with a lawyer or your local Citizens Advice Bureau before pursuing applying for the scheme. This is because you will have to pay any shortfall to lenders if your property does not have enough equity upon sale.

Disabled Facilities Grant

If you are registered disabled, you can apply for a disabled facilities grant. This is a grant for facilities necessary to assist someone with a particular disability. It has previously been used to pay for items such as handrails, stair lifts and electric beds.

If you are disabled, speak to your Local Council about applying for this grant. Whilst it isn't directly designed for general property maintenance, the money could be used to assist a disabled person to make their property safe. For example if you have limited mobility and your wooden staircase is rotting and unsafe, the grant could be used to install a new staircase with safety rails which is necessary to keep you mobile. This is therefore an indirect way for a section of society to pay for the cost of urgently needed property repairs.

House Proud Scheme

This scheme gives out low cost loans to homeowners and tenants over the age of 55. The money borrowed is to be used specifically for property maintenance and renovation. As well as urgent repairs needed for safety reasons, this maintenance could also include energy efficiency measures such as installing loft and cavity wall insulation and double glazed windows.

This is a loan and so the scheme will have to consider credit ratings to establish the risk involved in lending. However for those with a low income about to enter retirement, this is a much better option than taking out a bank loan to pay for property repairs, as the interest rates are considerably lower than the national lenders average.

Energy Efficiency Grants

For property repairs such as replacing old windows with new double glazing, there are a number of other energy efficiency grants available privately through large energy companies.

Following the government's Green Deal programme, large energy companies were obliged to offer grants and incentives to assist people to install energy saving measures. This can be as small as a water company providing free water saving devices such as tap inserts to reduce the flow of water by up to 70%. However some companies also offer incentives such as a fixed lower rate for those installing energy saving measures, so that the cost is recovered over a period of time in savings on your bills. Whilst this is not a direct way of getting assistance with property maintenance, it can help those struggling to pay the cost of repairs by lowering other monthly outgoings. There is information about to how to talk to a green deal assessor on the government's website.

There are a number of monetary assistance programmes and grants available through your local government and private schemes to assist homeowners and private tenants with the cost of property maintenance and repairs. Local Government Schemes often only run for a short period of time. However new schemes are regularly introduced so it is important to speak to your Local Council if you require assistance. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau may also be able to provide you with advice about options available to you and to fill in any applications.