NEW restrictions are to be imposed on renovation grants awarded by the council.

The conditions, which will remain in force for five years, aim to prevent fraud and home owners cashing in on grants by ensuring the property is occupied in the manner intended.

And the council will have the power to impose further constraints, including a requirement for applicants to announce intent to sell within five years of grant work being completed.

Other additional grant conditions include:

People in receipt of a Disabled Facility Grant will have to tell the council when any equipment or accommodation supplied is no longer needed.

Applicants will be required to take out property insurance during the grant condition period.

Applicants of certain types of grants will have to carry out an energy efficieny survey and execute conservation works.

Any breach of the conditions will incur repayment of the amount of grant provided by the council.

A spokesman said, "The adoption of additional grant conditions will strengthen current policy, secure 'value for money' and complement national initiatives to combat fraud.