HRI scheme - Do we qualify?

0kee

Hi,
Just reading through the details of the HRI scheme and I was hoping someone here might be able to clarify something for me.

There are two buildings on our site. An old cottage which we are currently living in and a separate building which was once a stable but had been converted to residential some time pre 63 but has since returned to its original stable/shed like condition.
Our plan is to bring the stable back up to spec so that we can live in it for the next few years while we get the cash together to do the big job on the main house. After that we were hoping to rent it out. Does anybody know if this will qualify for the Home Renovation Grant? I see from the documentation that "a refurbishment or reconstruction of an uninhabitable house" is exempt from the grant however this is more like a granny flat (seperate building however) and although I wouldn't like to live in it the roof etc is intact.
Thanks in advance

Gumbo

Is planning required?
Sounds like it might be needed?

0kee

Thanks Kceire,
We are working on the assumption that as we have a letter from an architect stating that it was residential pre 63 planning will not be required. Will planning be an issue when applying for the HRI Grant?

Gumbo

0kee wrote: »

Thanks Kceire,
We are working on the assumption that as we have a letter from an architect stating that it was residential pre 63 planning will not be required. Will planning be an issue when applying for the HRI Grant?

Might be an issue further down the line.
Also the HRI scheme has limits so it will restrict your access to it later too.

I would be lodging a Section 5 app to council to confirm planning status.

0kee

kceire wrote: »

Might be an issue further down the line.
Also the HRI scheme has limits so it will restrict your access to it later too.

I would be lodging a Section 5 app to council to confirm planning status.

I'll look into that. Thanks for the advice. Would getting planning retrospectively be an option? We aren't actually changing the structure. New roof which will be a bit higher to accommodate the water tank, but that's it. In terms of ruling out the grant for the main house, probably not an issue. Don't see us being able to fund that by the new 2018 deadline and this project would fit nicely with the 30,000 max.

Gumbo

It's the use that might have lapsed.
The higher roof might kick in the planning requirement anyhow.

0kee

Thanks for directing me to Section 5, been reading up and seems to be the way to go. This is all new to us. I suppose this means we'll have to postpone work until we get this clarified. Cheers