New support could be offered to improve homes

Cornwall Council said feedback from the consultation would help develop the final version of the policy

New financial support could be offered to improve homes, Cornwall Council has said.

The authority has now launched a consultation, which includes a number of schemes that could help residents to repair, improve or adapt their home.

Council leaders said feedback on its draft Housing Assistance Policy would help shape the policy's final version. The consultation will run until 23:59 BST on 10 November.

The council's portfolio holder for housing Olly Monk said poor housing conditions can have a wide-ranging impact on "health and wellbeing".

He added it can also make it harder to heat properties and make them more expensive to run.

Mr Monk said: "As well as the personal impact, this can also put increased demand on council and NHS services.

"This policy aims to bring together ways of addressing some of the current challenges, such as damp and mould, with improved assistance around adaptations, renovations, energy efficiency and disrepair and retrofit."

A council spokesperson added that assistance with housing issues could be "financial or information and advice services".