Sizewell C housing grants

The construction of Sizewell C will bring workers into the area, looking for accommodation in and around Sizewell.

The Construction of Sizewell C will bring workers into the area who will be looking for accommodation in and around the surrounding areas of Sizewell. If you own your property and have a spare room, annexe, garage or property that could make safe and comfortable living space for a Sizewell C worker you may be eligible for a grant to assist towards getting the room/property up to a lettable standard.

All grants are subject to you obtaining the necessary Planning and Building Regulations approvals.

Minor works grants

Minor Works Grants of up to £3,000 per bedroom are available to bring an unused bedroom into use within an existing home to be accommodated by a Sizewell C worker.

These grants are only available to applicants who are owner-occupiers and who also reside in the property.

Eligible works include:

  • Redecoration
  • New floor coverings
  • EICR and electrical improvements
  • Additional heating
  • Replacement window/secondary glazing
  • Hand wash basin installed in the room

Works that will not be included within the grant include:

  • Furniture
  • Soft furnishings
  • Lighting
  • Electrical appliances

All works must be carried out by a suitable tradesperson as DIY applications will not be considered.

Accommodation must be made available to use for 5 years from date of completion.

The grant is subject to repayment in full if the accommodation is not available for use within the first 5 years of completion. Conditions will be linked to the property via a deed of agreement lodged as a local land charge.

Renovation grants

Renovation grants of up to a maximum of £7,000 per bedspace are available to assist with the conversion of annexes, garages or non-residential buildings or conversion of existing homes into licensable standard HMOs (3 or more bedrooms) to provide safe & suitable residential accommodation for Sizewell C workers.

Eligible works include:

  • Structural works to create a habitable space
  • Electrical wiring
  • Heating installations
  • Windows and doors
  • Plumbing and provision of kitchen, bath, shower and toilet facilities
  • Additional parking areas
  • Creation of Homes of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) to licensable standards

Works that will not be included within the grant include:

  • Purchase of modular style structures such as shipping containers, log cabins, caravans etc

Works must be carried out by a suitable tradesperson. DIY applications will not be considered.

The grants will be subject to conditions which will be linked to the property via deed of agreement lodged as a local land charge.

The grant will be subject to repayment if the accommodation is not available for use for the first 10 years from the date of completion.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Further financial assistance of up to £2,500 is available where a property holds a valid EPC certificate of a rating D-G. The additional funding can be used towards the cost of recommended improvements listed on your EPC towards achieving a rating of a C*.

*All available Government and OFGEM promoted grants must be applied for first, where available.

Recommended works will be listed on your EPC in a recommended order to improve the rating of your property. Grant assistance will only be awarded to improvements listed on the EPC in order of recommendation. Any queries in relation to this should be discussed with our technical officer.

DIY applications

Works must be completed by a suitable tradesperson. The grant will not pay out on works completed by:

  • The applicant
  • Relative of the applicant
  • Applicant’s company or firm unless a limited company

Check to see if your property is within the current eligible area

Currently we are looking to provide grants for properties within a 30 minute drive to Sizewell C and that fall within the East Suffolk Council area. Check if your property would fall within this area.

Please note that this area is under constant review and the area may change throughout the process of construction depending on take up, demand and the completion of travel link projects. It is worthwhile keeping an eye out for any changes to the map intermittently. Any change to our current area of focus will be updated on the map.

Further queries or to apply

To make further enquiries please email us at: szchousinggrants@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.

Please include your name, address and preferred contact details along with the address of the property you are looking to obtain a grant for and a brief description of the accommodation you are hoping to offer e.g. room to let, room with ensuite, apartment, flat, house or HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy).

Accommodation will need to be advertised on the Sizewell C Accommodation Management system once works have been completed.

Rent a room in your home: The Rent a Room Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What happens next?

Once we have registered your enquiry, we will send you a reference number for you to quote on all further communications. Our Technical Officer will then in turn contact you to discuss your enquiry further and arrange to visit the property to assess whether the works proposed are suitable and whether we may be able to offer grant assistance for your project.

Whilst you wait for contact from our technical officer it may be worthwhile considering the following:

  • Planning permission/building regulations - Before considering your project, please consult the appropriate Planning and Building Control teams at East Suffolk Council and ask for their input and advice as well as seeking the appropriate support for your project whether it is through a change of use, moving or removing walls and partitions or a pod/outbuilding project. We will not approve any grants if planning permission or building regulations approval is required and has not been approved/granted.
  • Financial advice - Please consider seeking advice with regards your income for a lodger in your home as well as the implications of being a landlord, the costs, insurance, and letting/tenancy costs associated with renting out spaces.  In both cases, the costs of utilities and Council Tax implications as well as ongoing maintenance of the room/property including things like cleaning and laundry services.
  • Architect - Consider getting drawings together of your project so you have official drawings of plans to discuss with our technical officer and your contractors.
  • HMO licencing - If you are creating an HMO (Homes of Multiple Occupancy) that will accommodate 5 or more people from 2 or more different households, you will need a valid HMO licence in place before you can start renting your property out. Visit our HMO page for further information on HMO regulations and how to apply for a licence.
  • Time - Time needed to manage and maintain the letting, Cleaning and regular safety checks that are required to rent out managed spaces.

Some of these items could delay the grant process if they have not been considered/applied for.

More information on Houses in Multiple Occupation

 

Frequently asked questions

I am a registered tradesperson. Can I carry the works out myself?

Any works carried out that are being funded by the grant need to be carried out by a professional registered tradesperson that hold relevant qualifications where applicable for the work carried out. The contractor cannot be the applicant, a relative of the applicant or applicant’s Company or Firm unless a limited company.

Applications for works to be carried out by the applicant, a relative of the applicant or an applicant’s company or firm will not be considered regardless of whether the applicant, relative or applicant’s company or firm are registered tradespeople.

The applicant is defined as:

The company, person or persons named on the application.

A relative is defined as:

A person who is:

  • The applicant’s spouse or civil partner or who lives with the applicant as if they were husband and wife or as if they were civil partners, or
  • The applicant’s parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew

And

  • a relationship by marriage or civil partnership shall be treated as a relationship by blood.
  • a relationship of the half-blood shall be treated as a relationship of the whole blood.
  • the stepchild of a person shall be treated as his child, and
  • an illegitimate child shall be treated as the legitimate child of his mother and reputed father.

Will the grant cover the cost of the materials so I can carry the works out myself?

No, costs will be granted for labour or materials for works that are being carried out by the named applicants, relative of the applicants or the applicant’s company or firm unless a limited company.

My EPC certificate has expired. Can I apply for additional funding towards the cost of obtaining an EPC?

If the EPC rating of your property before the expiry of your certificate was D-G, we will contribute towards the cost of obtaining a new EPC to establish the current rating of the property and recommended works to improve the Energy Performance of the property. The cost of this will form part of the EPC further funding up to the maximum eligible amount. 

If your property was previously rated A-C, we will not contribute towards a new EPC certificate.

My EPC rating is a D. Can I apply for additional financial assistance towards improving my rating?

Yes. If we have a valid application from you for a Renovation Grant or a Minor Works grant, and your current EPC rating is D-G we will consider granting further financial assistance towards recommended improvements listed on your EPC report.

Recommended works are listed on an EPC report in the order they should be carried out. We would consider contributing towards recommended improvements in the order they are listed. For example, if your EPC report listed 5 improvements, we would not consider contributing towards improvement number 5 until improvements 1-4 have been confirmed as completed.

If I complete works to improve my EPC rating, will you contribute towards a reassessment to establish the new rating of the property.

Yes. If you have been approved for a grant with additional funding for EPC improvements, we will consider contributing towards a reassessment after works have been completed. The cost of the reassessment would need to be included within the amount being claimed up to the eligible amount. (£2,500 per property minor works grants/£2,500 per bedspace/bedroom for renovation grants).

I have 2 spare bedrooms at my residence that I wish to rent out to Sizewell workers. I will also be living at the property. Will this make me a small HMO?

Yes, it will. You will have 3 people from 2 or more different households living in the same property. Whilst your property will not require a licence, we will require the property to be renovated to a licensable HMO standard with adequate room sizes, smoke detection systems and fire requirements etc.

I have a 4 bedroom property that I will be turning into a 6 bedroom property for renting out to SZC workers. Will I require an HMO licence?

Yes, you will. Any property that is being renovated to house 5 or more people from 2 or more different households will require a valid HMO licence.

I have a mortgage on my property. Will this affect my eligibility to get a grant?

If there is an existing mortgage on the property, it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that the current mortgage terms permit the intended use of the property i.e. to let the property out as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), or letting in general. You must inform your mortgage provider of your intention to apply for this housing grant, and make them aware that, if the grant is approved, a legal charge will be placed on the property for the duration of the grant’s condition period. Failing to do this might breach your mortgage terms, which could lead to serious consequences so always consult with you mortgage lender. 

Will the grant cover any fees incurred in connection with my project?

Please note that the grant will not cover any associated fees related to your project, including costs for planning applications and building regulation applications.

Additionally, as part of the grant process, a Land Registry search will be carried out. A £14.00 charge for this search will be included in the total grant amount awarded to you.

My contractor requires a deposit before they will begin work. Can this be grant funded?

In some cases, contractors may require a deposit before they can begin work or order necessary materials. Please note that we are unable to make any payments for works that have not yet been completed, including deposits. As the applicant, you will be responsible for paying any required deposit upfront. This cost can be reimbursed through the grant once the work has been completed and all necessary evidence (such as invoices, certificates, and completion photos) has been provided and approved.