Clackmannanshire Council is to launch a new housing scheme, aimed at offering support to residents to adapt, repair and maintain their homes.

Councillors agreed to establish a Supported Owners' Service, which will be made available to homeowners and private tenants in the area.

The service will provide a range of assistance from advice and information, to financial help.

Priorities were set by the Council in 2010 with limited resources set aside for mandatory, private sector disabled adaptations and to those properties in poorest condition

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While the range of works eligible for funding is restricted, the minimum grant has increased from 50% to 80% of costs, and there is no upper limit.

Housing Convener, Councillor Les Sharp, said: "Since the pilot of the Private Sector Housing Assistance Scheme in 2010, cash spent has increased year on year. It is anticipated there will be £190,000 spent in 2012/13, an increase from £120,500 in 2010/11 and £141,000 in 2011/12.

"The Clackmannanshire Housing Strategy ensures that the Council provide a service to help older owner occupiers and tenants of private landlords to improve and adapt their homes, particularly as their needs change through age or infirmity."

Councillor Sharp added that it was the Council's aim to "support older people to remain at home for as long as possible for quality of life, choice and expenditure reasons."

Assistance for older and disabled people to organise and pay for significant repair works will be carried out with funds set aside for the Private Housing Assistance Scheme.

(JP/CD)