This scheme is designed to allow the Council to fund improvements to private houses of approved applicants in lieu of re-housing. The Scheme allows applicants to remain living in their own houses which has benefits both for the applicant and the Council. The cost of the works is placed as a charge on the property and therefore is a loan and not a grant. The property must be in the ownership of the applicant and if approved the applicant is required to make weekly or monthly repayments to the local authority based on their income over a 15 year period.