First-time Buyer: Home Renovation Grant Application Form Please send completed forms along with any other documents to the following address: Empty Homes Team Gwynedd Council Cae Penarlag Dolgellau Gwynedd LL40 2YB 01341 424 371 taigwag@gwynedd.llyw.cymru If possible, please include photographs of the property with your application PART ONE ABOUT YOU APPLICANT DETAILS 1 Mr/Mrs/Ms/Other (please state) (1) (2) 2 Full Name(s) of applicant(s) (as per your passport / driving licence) (1) (2) 3 Your home address (correspondence will be sent to this address) Postcode: 4 Contact Telephone Numbers 5 E-mail address Home: Mobile: 6 7 Have you lived in Gwynedd continuously for a period of five years in the past? This grant is only available for applicants who can answer positively to this question. Over what period have you lived continuously in Gwynedd? Please attach evidence to this effect in the form of utility bills, employment/ educational records, etc. From: To: 1
8 Are you a first time buyer? 1 This grant is only available for first time buyers. PART TWO EMPTY PROPERTY DETAILS 9 Full address of property to be renovated (including postcode) 10 What type of property is it? Postcode: Detached house Semi-detached house Terraced house Bungalow Flat Flat above commercial premises Self-contained flats Maisonette Commercial (to be converted) 11 Date purchased property: Please note that you must be the registered owner in order to apply for this grant. / / 12 Is the property freehold or leasehold? * If leasehold, please provide freehold owner details. Freehold Leasehold* 13 How would you describe the condition of the property? Ruinous Derelict In need of major repairs In need of modernisation In need of minor repairs In need of adaption 14 How long has the property been empty? Must have been empty for a period of 6 months or more. years months 15 How many bedrooms does the property currently have and how many will it provide upon completion? Current Bedrooms Upon Completion 16 Have you applied for any other Council assistance to renovate this property? If Yes, please provide details. 17 Will the proposed works require planning permission? If you have answered YES please confirm if 1 A first time buyer is defined as an individual who has never owned an interest in a residential property in the United Kingdom or anywhere else in the world and who intends to occupy the property as their main residence. 2
planning permission has been: Granted (include full reference number) Awaiting decision Planning permission not yet submitted Date Granted: Reference: Date Submitted: Plans attached (please tick) Will the proposed works require building regulation approval? If you have answered YES please confirm if building regulation approval has been: Date Granted: 18 Granted (include full reference number) Awaiting decision Reference: Date Submitted: Building regulation not yet submitted Building regs attached (please tick) PART THREE RENOVATION WORKS Renovation works must be completed within a 9 month period from the date of approval. Upon presenting invoices and receipts for works (which are deemed to be completed to a satisfactory standard by the council) part payments can be made. At the end of the nine month period copies of completion / safety certificates and any remaining invoices and receipts must be presented. If you experience any problems in completing the project within the assigned period, you may request an extension to the completion date any such requests must be made in writing to the Council, detailing the reasons for the request. Please provide a summary of the intended works, specifying the total costs of these works and clearly stating if this includes or excludes VAT. The applicant must also obtain from their contractor a fully costed and itemised estimate of the work. Please note that you may be eligible for a lower VAT rate depending on how long the property has been empty and whether you appoint a VAT registered contractor. Your local Empty Homes Officer will be able to provide you with further details 3
19 Please state how long the project is expected to take to complete: months (works must be complete within 9 months, and can only be extended in extreme circumstances and in agreement with the Council) Description of works Internal External I have included a prepared schedule of works / cost report 20 If you currently possess an estimates for the work, please provide it below. If not, leave this section blank. Name of Company VAT Registered Date of Quote Gross Cost Net Cost 21 Are there any outstanding notices served on this property? (If yes, please provide details) 22 Is there any other information you would like to supply in support of your application? 4
Supporting documents: Appendix 1: Grant applications will require additional supporting documents during the application process. Please give details of any documents you are able to provide at this stage. Applications which include all supporting documents will be processed sooner. Please tick all supporting documents which are provided with this application: Schedule of works Costed estimate of work (itemised) Plans Planning Permission Building Regulations Approval Party-wall Consent Photographs of the property Please ensure that the documents are enclosed with your application form. Appendix 2: If the grant does not cover the full costs of the works, evidence of adequate finance to ensure that the scheme is financially viable must be provided. Please tick if evidence of financial means to finance the project is provided with this application: Financial means to complete works Please specify which documents: Please ensure that the documents are enclosed with your application form. 5
PART FOUR DECLARATION & LETTING CERTIFICATE Anyone who knowingly makes a false declaration may be guilty of an offence. I / we declare that the information provided is correct. 1 st Applicant Signed: Date: 2 nd Applicant (If applicable) Signed: Date: I hereby certify that I qualify as: FIRST-TIME BUYER: HOME RENOVATION GRANT A local resident of Gwynedd, according to the following definition: Somebody who has continuously lived or worked in Gwynedd for a minimum period of 5 years prior to making an application, or for a minimum period of 5 years continuously in the past (evidence to this effect in the form of utility bills, birth certificate, employment history etc. will be required). A first-time buyer, according to the following definition: An individual who has never owned an interest in a residential property in the United Kingdom or anywhere else in the world. I further attest that: After the completion of works the property under renovation will be used as a principal home by the applicant for a minimum period of 5 years and will not be used as a second home, a holiday let, or as a business premises. In addition, I, the applicant, agree to reside in the property within a year of receiving grant approval. I guarantee that, if grant funding is approved by Gwynedd Council, any such funding will be used only for purposes authorised by Gwynedd Council. Approval and use of the funding in renovation works is entirely at the discretion of Gwynedd Council, and is exclusively available for the development of the following property features: - Roof, chimney, rainwater goods/fascia/barge boards. - Doors and windows. - Rendering (insulated)/pointing - Electrical work - Plumbing/heating - Kitchen - Bathroom - DPC/tanking/timber treatment In addition, in signing this contract I agree for the Contractor/Agent/Council Officer and any other relevant person to have reasonable access to carry out any essential inspection on the property for which funding was/will be released. In the event of a breach of any condition included in the terms of this agreement any assistance provided will be repayable to the Council on demand. Applicant(s) declaration Signed (1): Signed (2): Please print name(s): Date: Date: 6
First-time Buyer Renovation Grant Process Step1: Applicant completes application form and submits it to the Empty Homes Team along with any additional relevant documents. Step 2: Empty Homes Team considers application and arranges that a Grant Officer visit the property in order to verify the works required, and create a schedule of works (if necessary). Step 3: Once the SOW (schedule of works) has been prepared, the Empty Homes Team asks the applicant to source estimates for the work listed, these must be forwarded to the Empty Homes Team as soon as possible. Step 4: Gwynedd Council review the estimates received for the work, and any other documents provided. Step 5: Upon receipt of invoices and works deemed satisfactory by the Council, the Empty Homes Team issues grant approval to the applicant. Partial payment can be made at this point. Works must be completed within 9 months from this point. Step 6: Once works are complete, our Environmental Health Officer will visit to ensure the works have been completed in accordance with the prepared schedule of works. Step 7: Applicant forwards any gas / electrical safety certificates to the Empty Homes Team, along with invoices for the work from the contractor. Step 8: If satisfied, the Empty Homes Team will issue the final payment to the applicant. 7