Find out about the successes of our private housing renewal assistance programme over the last three years.
The council has taken an innovative approach to private housing renewal to provide a range of grants, loans and practical advice to help repair, improve or adapt homes to meet the needs of local residents.
Over the course of the last three years the council's Private Housing Renewal Policy has proved to be extremely effective at targeting our resources and has delivered substantial improvements to date. Some of these include:
East Sussex Energy Partnership
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Delivery of a comprehensive energy programme across East Sussex as the lead authority in the East Sussex Energy Partnership. 3000 energy efficiency measures (loft and cavity wall insulation and renewable technologies) have been delivered in Eastbourne.
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This contributed to improving living conditions for residents as well as reducing the town’s overall carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Investment at the end of the three year programme approached £1.5m
Private Housing Assistance - Because You Deserve It!
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750 households have been assisted via the Small Works Grants jointly funded by Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council and delivered by Eastbourne Care and Repair at a cost of £150,000.
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10 units of family accommodation have been brought back into use through Empty Property Grants. A dedicated full time Empty Property Officer has been employed and his actions have contributed to over 350 properties being brought back into use - all helping to meet housing need in the town.
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An Emergency Heating and Hot Water Repair Scheme has been provided and has delivered 93 emergency interventions at a cost of £38,000 and 30
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residents have been assisted through Warm Front ‘top-ups’ to help improve heating and energy efficiency at a cost of £34,000.
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£500,000 of Decent Homes Works has been spent on private housing stock improvements targeted at the most vulnerable residents in the town. 47 homes have been improved and helped moved towards meeting the Decent Homes Standard.
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Improving the safety of 32 residents at risk of domestic violence through the Sanctuary Assistance Scheme at a cost of £55,000.
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Over 300 Disabled Facilities Grants have been completed over the last three years at a cost of £1.98 million.
Following a successful bidding process the Government provided the Brighton and East Sussex Together partnership (BEST) with over £20million to improve private housing over a three year period from 2008-2011. The BEST authorities were Eastbourne, Brighton and Hove, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden Councils.
