Financial Support for Residents and Businesses
The Government implemented a package of support for people who have suffered internal flood damage to their homes and businesses, as a direct result of Storm Babet.
Several of the schemes which were administered by Mansfield District Council have now closed to new applications. The schemes that have closed are the Community Recovery Grant, Council Tax Discount, Business Rates Relief and Business Recovery Grant.
There are several schemes remaining open to support those affected by internal flooding arising from Storm Babet which are detailed below.
Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Grants
Please note: To apply for Storm Babet PFR funding, properties must have reported to Nottinghamshire County Council as flooded prior to 21 January 2024.
Residential and Business properties that were flooded during Storm Babet between 20 October 2023 and 25 October 2023 may be eligible for support from the Government through a £5,000 grant (inclusive of VAT) from DEFRA’s PFR Repair Grant funding.
The funding is a contribution to assist property owners to improve the flood resilience of their properties when they repair them after a flood, so if flooding were to reoccur, damage levels would be considerably lower, and property owners and businesses could return to their properties much more quickly.
Nottinghamshire County Council will administer DEFRA’s Property Flood Resilience (PFR) repair grant to property owners impacted by storm Babet in Mansfield. We will pass on any expressions of interest from eligible property owners to Nottinghamshire County Council, who will contact the property owner to confirm next steps and funding arrangements.
We strongly discourage property owners from commissioning their own survey/PFR works ahead of obtaining a funding agreement from Nottinghamshire County Council, as grant payments can only be made to property owners where DEFRA’s terms have been met in full and there is a risk that property owners may incur costs that cannot be reimbursed.
Property owners are advised not to have any work carried out prior to a proper survey being completed as this may lead in ineligibility of support from the fund.
DEFRA’s requirements for the Property Flood Resilience Repair grant are that property owners will be unable to claim any grant unless they have had a survey done, prior to works being completed, and that the survey must be completed by a suitably qualified surveyor, who is independent from the contractor carrying out the works. The surveyor must identify where the flooding came from and propose PFR measures suitable for the property. The surveyor will then need to sign off completed works as those identified in the survey, and check the standard of works and products used.
Nottinghamshire County Council will commission surveys on behalf of property owners, to secure value for money and ensure compliance with DEFRA’s terms. DEFRA have capped the maximum contribution at £5,000 including VAT, which includes £500 including VAT for surveys – any costs in excess of this will need to be met by the property owner.
Nottinghamshire County Council have confirmed that the survey cost will be £840 (which includes £140 of VAT), which will need to be paid upfront by you and is non-refundable. Should you then decide to undertake the remedial works identified in the survey, then you will be reimbursed by £500.
Nottinghamshire County Council are asking that applicants do not engage with surveyors outside of their framework and allow Nottinghamshire County Council to put these in place. There is a possibility that if there are several properties in one street then the survey cost will be reduced. Nottinghamshire County Council are working with their appointed surveyors on this and confirmed applicants will be advised accordingly at the time Nottinghamshire County Council book the survey with them and take payment.
The remaining grant of £4,500 (to include VAT) will then be available to fund the remedial works as identified in the survey. Where works amount to more than £4,500 this would need to be paid for by you.
Should, after the survey is completed, you decide not to undertake the remedial works, the £500 towards the initial survey costs will not be reimbursable from the grant.
How to you apply?
If having read the above information regarding the costs, grants and the eligibility criteria, you would be happy to proceed, please complete the online expression of interest form below. By completing the online form you are agreeing that Mansfield District Council can pass your details on to Nottinghamshire County Council, who are administrating the grant. They will be in touch with you further to organise the survey.
Please note that properties which have previously received PFR Repair Grant funding are not eligible to apply again, unless exceptional circumstances apply; please speak with your local Council.
Apply for Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Funding
More information can be found on the Nottinghamshire County Council website (opens in a new window).