The Government announced payments for communities affected by flooding because of Storm Henk. The support is being made available through a scheme called the Flood Recovery Framework.
If your property suffered flood damage between 2-12 January 2024 the funding is being administered by the local authority. The assistance includes:
- Community Recovery Grant - £500 for immediate recovery costs.
- Council Tax Discount – 100% Council Tax relief for at least three months.
- Business Recovery Grant - £2,500 to help return to business as usual.
- Business Rates Relief – 100% relief for at least three months.
Households
For flooded households meeting the criteria, a Community Recovery Grant of £500 is available to help with immediate recovery costs.
If your living accommodation has been flooded, or your home has been left uninhabitable for at least 48 hours because of flooding from Storm Henk, you could be eligible for a Community Recovery Grant and/or 100% discount on Council Tax for a minimum of three months.
Community Recovery Grant
- The grant is £500 and paid direct to the household
- Households are eligible where the living accommodation has been flooded or the home has been left uninhabitable for at least 48 hours due to flooding, such as when utilities have been cut off
- The grant does not apply to empty homes, student accommodation or second homes
- If you are the bill payer for council tax purposes on a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), flat, you are eligible to claim the Community Recovery Grant
Council Tax Discount Scheme
If flood water entered the habitable areas of your home or flood water did not enter into the habitable areas, but the residence was otherwise considered unliveable as a result of the recent floods for at least 48 hours, you will receive a 100% discount on your Council Tax for a minimum of three months – this means you do not have to pay Council Tax during this period.
After three months, if you moved out and have not been able to return home, you may not have to pay Council Tax until you move back. If you are not able to move back into your home after three months, please tell us so that this discount may be extended. You may also be able to claim a discount on any Council Tax that you are paying on a second or rented property that you are living in temporarily as a result of not being able to live in your main home.
Instances where households might be considered unliveable could include:
- Where access to the property is severely restricted
- Services such as sewerage, wate and power supplies are severely affected
- The adverse weather has resulted in other significant damage to the property, such that it would be, or would have been, advisable for residents to vacate, regardless of whether they do vacate or not
- Flooded gardens and garages will not usually render a household eligible but there may be exceptions where it could be demonstrated that such instances mean effectively that the property is unliveable.
Second homes, and empty homes are not eligible.
Business Rates Relief and Business Recovery Grant
Businesses significantly impacted by flooding due to Storm Henk, and unable to open their business because it was flooded, may qualify for 100% business rates relief for at least three months.
Small-to-medium sized businesses in affected areas could receive up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant for flood damage to property, equipment, stock or trade loss because customers or suppliers could not reach them.
Business Recovery Grant
To be eligible the business must:
- Be a small-to-medium sized business:
- Have fewer than 250 employees; and
- Have a turnover of less than 50m euros or a balance sheet total less than 43m euros
- Be directly impacted by the relevant weather event – for instance flood damage to the property, equipment, and/or stock; or the business could not function due to a lack of access to premises, equipment and/or stock as a result of the recent weather events, and the flooding seriously impacted the businesses’ ability to trade from the property.
- Empty properties, storage sheds and warehouses are not eligible, unless the business was actively trading from them at the time of the flooding.
- Have appropriate flood insurance cover in place or have actively made attempts to insure the business premises against flood damage on at least one occasion since 1 January 2023.
- Direct impact from Storm Babet: If a business experienced direct impact, such as flood damage to the property, and received a grant under Storm Babet and reinstated the premises, it is eligible to apply for funding related to Storm Henk. However, eligibility for Storm Henk funding is contingent upon the premises being directly impacted, specifically with flood damage to the property.
- Indirect Impact from Storm Babet: For businesses that were indirectly affected by Storm Babet and received a grant, they are eligible to apply for Storm Henk funding only if they have subsequently experienced direct impact with flood damage to the property.
Business Rate Relief
- 100% rate relief for a minimum of 3 months.
- This is subject to the UK subsidy control regime, and is only available to properties with a rateable value of less than £10 million
What we need from you
Oadby & Wigston Borough Council isn't aware of any properties or businesses that were flooded between 2-12 January, and is therefore not anticipating any applications for funding.
However, if you think that you are eligible, please contact us on 0116 288 8961 or email customerservices@oadby-wigston.gov.uk.
The deadline for applications is 21 March 2024.
Other funding
In addition, the property owner may also be eligible for a Property Resilience Grant of up to £5,000 to help properties become more resilient to future flooding, being administered by Leicestershire County Council. Further information will be provided by Leicestershire County Council when the scheme is launched.
Funding is also available for clubs or facilities damaged by flooding and more information can be found about this on the Active Together website.
Further guidance can be found in the Governments Flood Recovery Framework Guide
Last updated: Friday, 2 February 2024 9:04 am