Repairs to Property

6-11 Repairs to Property


PURPOSE



1. To provide essential home repairs.



PRINCIPLE



2. Repairs should be undertaken where property presents a health or safety risk to the applicant.



3. Applicants should be encouraged to provide the labour themselves or with family and community resources where it is reasonable to do so.



4. Applicants should be encouraged to take advantage of available programs through the P.E.I. Housing Corporation or local organizations.



POLICY



5. Repairs to homes owned by applicants may be authorized if such repairs are essential to the health and safety of the family and other commercial or government financing is either unavailable or insufficient.



6. Repair costs up to $5,000 may be authorized by the designated authority as a benefit. Amounts in excess of $5,000 shall be recovered in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Act.



7. In some situations, relocation should be encouraged as an alternative to carrying out substantial repairs.



8. Home "ownership" includes those properties that have come into the applicant’s possession and have been his/her established residence although clear title to the property/parcel cannot be established. However, it does not include rental property.



9. In situations where there is a dispute over the ownership of the property, substantial investments in repair work should be avoided.



PROCEDURE



10. Estimates shall be obtained before authorization. More than one estimate should be requested where there is uncertainty in determining reasonable cost.



11. Essential or emergency repairs completed without prior authorization shall require approval of the Department even though the costs may be within the worker’s authority.