Everybody occasionally faces unavoidable expenses, both younger and older people, and home maintenance is a very common one. You probably know someone who had to spend an important amount of money to upgrade the bathroom to make it safer or solve moisture problems. However, some older people face an additional problem that comes along with those unavoidable expenses: the trouble getting the money. 

Lewisham Council offers some support to those who need to carry out maintenance works at home and struggle with its cost. This help consists of grants and interest-free loans for homeowners, private tenants and private sector landlords. If you are eligible, you can get a grant of £3,000 and up to a further £27,000 interest-free loan. 

If you want to apply for it, just contact the Lewisham Housing Grants Team (telephone number: 020 8314 6622, email: [email protected]). You will have to provide some information so they can let you know whether you are eligible. If you are, a grant surveyor will visit your home to make an inspection and prepare a schedule of work. 

Some of the works that can be included in a home repair are work to fix roofs, walls, windows, doors and chimneys; work to gas and electrical installations, and work to prevent your home being damp. You can visit the Lewisham Council website for more information: https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/housing/grants-loans/Pages/default.aspx