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Compensation for carrying out improvements to a Housing Executive property

If you are a Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) tenant and you have carried out improvements to your home, which have been approved, you may be able to claim compensation.

Who gets compensation?

If you are a secure tenant of the Housing Executive you may be able to get compensation for any approved improvements to your house or flat. In special circumstances, where you are unable to make a claim, others may be able to claim on your behalf. If you have succeeded to the tenancy, in other words, if you have taken it over from a tenant who has died, contact the district office to find out if you qualify for compensation. You can get more details at your local Housing Executive district office.

You will not receive compensation if:

  • you buy your house or flat under the House Sales scheme
  • your home is being repossessed by NIHE
  • you are being given a new tenancy for your existing home

Do I need permission to make improvements?

You must get written permission before you make any improvements to your home. If permission is refused you can appeal the decision to the NIHE area manager or the county court. You will only receive compensation if the housing executive agreed to the improvements before they were made.

Which improvements can I claim against?

You can only get compensation for certain improvements. These include installing, replacing or fitting:

  • a bath or shower
  • wash-hand basin
  • toilet
  • kitchen sink
  • storage cupboards in bathroom or kitchen
  • work surfaces for food preparation
  • space or water heating
  • thermostatic radiator valves
  • insulation of pipes, water tank or cylinder
  • loft insulation
  • cavity wall insulation
  • draught proofing of external doors or windows
  • double glazing or other external window replacement
  • secondary glazing
  • rewiring or the provision of power and lighting or other electrical fittings (including smoke detectors)
  • any object that improves the security of the dwelling house but excluding burglar alarms
  • decorating the inside of your home does not qualify for compensation

What can I claim compensation for?

You can claim compensation for:

  • the cost of materials (but not appliances such as cookers or fridges)
  • labour costs (but not your own labour)

When you apply for compensation you will need to give the Housing Executive an invoice showing the cost of the improvements.

How do I claim compensation?

You must make a claim in writing to your district office within the period starting 28 days before and ending 21 days after your tenancy comes to an end. If in doubt, you should contact your district office for advice.

Your district office will need to know:

  • your name and address
  • what improvements you have made
  • how much each improvement cost
  • the date the improvements were started and finished

Appeals

If you are not happy with the decision the Housing Executive makes regarding your claim for compensation, you can appeal within 28 days of receiving the decision by writing to the NIHE area manager.

How much will I get?

You can receive up to £3,000 for each improvement. However, you will not receive any compensation for an improvement if the amount of compensation would be less than £100.

How does the Housing Executive work out my compensation?

Your district office will start with the cost of the improvements and may ask you to provide proof of the amount you have spent. You should keep a copy of any bills in a safe place and you may want to send a copy to your district office when the work has been completed.

If you had any financial help towards the improvement such as a grant or self help payment, the Housing Executive will take this amount from the cost of your improvement. The value of any improvement you have made falls as the improvement gets older and as you get use out of it. The compensation you get will take the age of your improvement into account.

Your compensation may also be reduced if the Housing Executive believes you paid too much for the improvement, or the work has been carried out to a higher specification. They may also increase or reduce your compensation depending on the condition of the improvement when your tenancy ends.

The Housing Executive can also take any money you owe from the compensation you are entitled to (for example, for unpaid rent).

Example

  • you install a kitchen sink costing £200. The notional life of the kitchen sink is 20 years
  • the improvement is discounted at £10 per year
  • compensation is claimed 2 years after the improvement is made
  • £200/20 years = £10 per year; 2 years @ £10 = £20
  • £200 cost - £20 = £180 compensation

Compensation for improvements for former tenants

If you are a secure tenant who has carried out improvements to your home and your tenancy has ended, you may be able to receive compensation for the improvements provided they were approved by the Housing Executive.

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