A scheme designed to help people make improvements to their homes in Reading has been suspended for months on end.
The Flexible Home Improvement Loan Scheme has been available in Reading since 2012.
The scheme allowed people to get upgrades to improve the warmth, comfort, safety, and security of their properties.
Beneficiary groups included people aged 60 and over, buy-to-let landlords and people who wanted to bring an empty home back into use.
Disabled people could also use the scheme alongside a Disabled Facilities Grant if the eligible works were in excess of £30,000.
However, the scheme was suspended due to staffing difficulties.
A Reading Borough spokesperson has confirmed that the scheme is still suspended, and pointed out that alternatives are available.
The spokesperson said: “The Flexible Home Improvement Loan (FHIL) Scheme remains suspended currently.
“We understand that the FHIL board intends to resume the scheme but as yet do not know a timetable for this.
“This only affects new loan applications, as existing loans are still being honoured.
“Reading residents are still able to apply for the Council’s Discretionary Housing, Health and Safety Repairs Grant for essential repair works to bring properties up to a liveable standard.
“This provides a maximum of £40,000 towards the cost of grant-eligible works if residents meet the grant conditions. Residents can find out more and apply by contacting the Housing Adaptations & Grants Team on 0118 937 2562 or by emailing adaptations.grants@reading.gov.uk.”
The halting of the scheme was raised shortly after it was suspended at the council’s housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee meeting last July.
Councillor Sarah Magon (Green, Park) said: “Following a previous query to councillor services, I was informed that the scheme is in suspension while it is subject to an options appraisal which could take six months and that this is a stand-alone budget.
“This would seem to be an extremely valuable resource for residents borough-wide who wish to improve and insulate their homes.
“I just wanted to gain some clarification around whether we can expect this scheme to open to new borrowers in this financial year? Or when it is likely to reopen for new borrowers?”
Matt Yeo (Labour, Caversham), lead councillor for housing, replied: Due to staffing changes in other partner boroughs which meant the previous delivery
arrangements could not continue, the partnership is currently considering future delivery options, and has commissioned a review and an options appraisal by an external consultant.”
Although it was hoped the suspension would only last for six months, with a consultation on being devised last September, the scheme remains suspended.
It is now nine months since news broke last July.
During the meeting, cllr Yeo said: “The scheme has been suspended while the review is carried out, but we wish to continue making these loans available to Reading residents once a viable future model is in place.
“We will be happy to notify any individual residents brought to our attention when we are in a position to confirm that new loans are being made available.”
