Objective: To investigate current policy in respect of resourcing private sector housing renewal to promote healthy housing and communities. Design: A qualitative study using focus group research investigating what low-income home owners would find helpful in carrying out maintenance and repair to their homes. Setting: The focus groups were held in the area office of a South London (private sector housing) Renewal Area. Method: Exploratory focus groups were held in 2003 to 2004, to represent low-income ethnically diverse home-owners within the Renewal Area. Results: Respondents were open to looking at new ways of maintaining and repairing their homes, although tended to focus around their own needs rather than the works a local authority may strategically wish to see carried out in private housing sector to meet legal housing standards and promote healthy housing. Conclusion: Local authorities need to be able to find new, evidence-based ways of supporting home-owners to carry out maintenance and repairs to their homes as part of a wider public health agenda. (Contains 1 figure.)