Thurnscoe East will get the biggest share of the government cash with £1.1million allocated for the Lidget Lane area.
That will pay for external refurbishment of 60 privately owned properties to give them an extra 30 years of life and the rest will be used for environmental works to create a new gateway from Hickleton.
At the moment the entrance to Thurnscoe is neglected and vandalised and an environmental makeover is seen as vital to encourage more investment and new jobs into the Thurnscoe area.
A further £2.4million has been allocated for compulsory purchase of run-down properties and site clearance.
Barnsley Council has been given Government go-ahead to spend the money on improvements as part of the multimillion pounds South Yorkshire Pathfinder project which is designed to help areas of housing deprivation. The idea is to invest the cash improving the standard and appearance of run down areas of housing and their surroundings to bring about regeneration.
In all nine housing and environmental projects across Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe, Bolton-on-Dearne, Great Houghton, Little Houghton and Middlecliffe will benefit from the £5.44million.
Other projects include a Private Landlord Forum and a Neighbourhood Management Board to improve communications between landlords and the council.
Residents in Thurnscoe have already been involved in consultations with the council about what changes they would like to see brought about with the money.
The Thurnscoe East estate has been allocated £740,000 for urban design consultants to draw up a blueprint for regeneration. It is part of what is officially the most deprived ward in Barnsley and accepted as an area of housing market weakness.
The Washington Road area of Goldthorpe will also get environmental improvements.