Do you provide housing repair services in all areas of King County?
We cannot provide service to you if you live inside the city limits of Seattle, due to the fact that Seattle receives its own funds to provide a housing repair program within its boundaries. The cities of Beaux Arts, Medina, Newcastle, and Normandy Park do not currently participate in the King County Consortium. Therefore, the residents of those cities do not have access to the King County Housing Repair Program.
For more information about housing repair resources in other cities, click here.
What information do I need to provide when I call?
You will be asked for both personal and financial information, just as if you were applying to a bank for a loan. In addition, you will need to provide income information for everyone over 18 years old who lives in your home and is receiving income.
You should be prepared to provide this information at the time you telephone to apply:
How much money you receive as gross income every month for all adults over 18 in the home;
The total value of your assets such as bank accounts, stock holdings and other real estate; and
The balance(s) that is currently owed against your home.
Documentation that proves the information you give us over the phone will need be mailed as soon as possible. We cannot continue with your application until we receive the documentation.
The repair work is done by private contractors who are licensed in the State of Washington and are chosen by you. We can provide assistance with information about contractors if you need it. You are urged to check the references of all contractors that you consider for the work.
Only if you can show that you have the capacity to do the work yourself and have the time to do the job without delay. We can only pay you for the materials, not the labor.
This is a repair program that focuses primarily on fixing major problems in the home. Eligible repairs include things like leaking roofs and broken heating and sewage disposal systems. Items not deemed eligible are the repairing or replacing of fences, remodeling of a kitchen, landscaping, or the building a new garage. One of our staff people will inspect your property and determine what is eligible.
How long will it take before the repair work is completed?
There are multiple answers to this question depending on whether you participate in the loan or grant program. Regardless of which program you participate in, it is important that you answer the questions completely and accurately at the time of application. If we receive incomplete or inaccurate information, this may cause delays in processing your application.
If an emergency grant is the most appropriate program for you, you can generally get the repair(s) done within one to three days.
For the other programs, the application can generally be approved and work authorized to begin within 60 days. Whether this is possible depends on how quickly you can provide the necessary information. A major factor in determining the length of time it takes for the work to be completed depends on how rapidly you can get competitive bids and make a contractor selection. If you have ownership problems associated with your property that are discovered when we order a title search, this could cause a delay.
The Project Engineer/Repair Specialist who visits you in your home will determine whether you are eligible for a loan or a grant, depending upon your circumstances and repair needs.
Will you require repairs to be made beyond my initial request?
Maybe. Because the financial assistance is being provided with federal funds there may be repairs that are required beyond your request. The Project Engineer/Repair Specialist that visits your home will let you know what applies in your particular case.
How are contractors selected and paid, and how long does it take for the contractor to get paid?
Owners are responsible for getting contractor bids and selecting their contractor. Generally, the contractor chosen is the one who has submitted the most responsible bid, not necessarily the lowest bid. Upon authorization from the homeowner and inspection by King County, the contractor is paid. It generally takes about two weeks from the time the bill is submitted to us for payment to be sent to the contractor.
Does the Housing Repair Program guarantee the work of the contractor?
No, all guarantees and warranties are between you and your contractor, and/or the manufacturer of a product installed in your home. It is important for you to ask the contractor performing the work about the guarantee/warranty of the work and the products.
If I don’t agree with my contractor about something, what happens?
County staff will try to help you and the contractor work out any disputes. There are other courses of action that can be taken, such as mediation or legal action, and we can suggest other options if we are unable to help you resolve the dispute.
You do not need to pay a housing repair loan back unless you sell your home or transfer the property to someone else, or you no longer use the home as your primary residence.
My home is located in an area that often floods. Does that make a difference?
If your house is located in a "floodway", as defined by the Army Corps of Engineers, we will not be able to provide service to you. We can help you determine if you are in a floodway. If your home is located in a floodplain outside of the "floodway" we may be able to provide services to you, however, you may be required to obtain flood insurance. We will let you know what you need to do in order to receive financial assistance through the Housing Repair Program.
