Bracknell

Many Bracknell Forest residents will soon be able to have the standard of their homes improved thanks to Bracknell Forest Council becoming members of the flexible home improvement loan scheme.

The Scheme means the Bracknell Council can access additional government funding to make loans available to enable private home owners in the borough to improve their homes. The home owner can choose how the loan will be repaid. They can make interest only payments or can choose to pay nothing until the home is sold.

Joining the scheme was agreed by the Council's Executive at a meeting last Tuesday (24 June). This will support the Council's aim of ensuring the homes of at least 70% of vulnerable people in the borough meet the Decent Homes Standard.

Decent Homes Standard is set by government and includes a basic standard of living. A decent home should be warm, weatherproof and have reasonable modern facilities.

Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Bracknell Adult Services, Health and Housing, said: To be able to get access to this capital funding means that we can improve the homes, lives, health and well-being of many people across the borough.

To be able to get homes up to Decent Homes Standard, by offering discretionary loans, means that the Council will be working towards ensuring that at least 70% of vulnerable households are living in homes which meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2010.”

Bracknell Forest Council