Generation Rent Awarded £45k Grant

Generation Rent has been awarded a grant from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd to fund its London campaign it has announced. The grant of £45,500 will support Generation Rent’s campaign for rent controls ahead of the Greater London elections in 2016. The Trust exists to correct imbalances of power and strengthen the hand of organisations striving for reform. As the grant is intended for Generation Rent's London work, it does not count towards the organisation's wider crowdfunding campaign, which seeks to raise £60,000 by 31 August. Read more on the Generation Rent website.

Troubled Green Deal Re-Launches with £1,500 Sweetener

Homebuyers who install energy-saving measures within the first 12 months of moving into their new home will be able to claim new grants – typically up to £1,500 – after a government revamp of the green deal. Following a raft of complaints about the original scheme – set up to encourage householders to insulate and improve their homes – and a very low take-up, ministers have responded with a series of financial sweeteners.  From 9 June a £500 payment will be offered to anyone who installs energy-efficiency measures within 12 months of moving into their property.  They will also be able to apply for a further £1,000 cashback, which will be available to all, irrespective of when they moved in, if they fit any combination of two improvements from a list of 12. Read more on the Guardian website.

ALMO Offers Tenants Up to £29,000 to Buy Open Market Homes

Barnet’s council tenants are being offered a helping hand to buy a home of their own in a campaign by north London social landlord Barnet Homes. Tenants who want to buy a home of their choice on the open market could receive a maximum cash grant from Barnet Homes of £29,000 towards their property purchase anywhere in the UK.  The campaign, which has £400,000 available to fund grants until April 2013, is designed to help increase the supply of homes to rent to families in housing need in the borough.  Applications for the cash incentive grants are being accepted now and are given on a first come first served basis. The grant does not have to be repaid.  Tenants could get:

• £18,000 for tenancies between two and five years with two or more bedrooms

• £26,000 for tenancies longer than five years with two bedrooms

• £29,000 for tenancies longer than five years with three bedrooms or more.  

Read more on the Barnet Homes website.