Green Home Grant.

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Anyone know much about this latest gov scheme?

Basically any homeowner (including landlords) can get up to 2/3 (all if on benefits) paid towards house upgrades that specifically target heating.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-green-homes-grant-scheme

I figured it may be useful to have a place to discuss the possibilities here, as there is an opportunity to save* up to 5k here.

* I'm guessing you can only use certain suppliers so 'save' is a very loose term


Being relatively sensible I've already done most measures at full expense to myself, this seems to be to convince those that didn't fancy paying for it or have recently moved. Anyway, I digress. The one measure that interests me is flat roof insulation, I notice in winter despite no heating in my kitchen I never get snow on the roof, it must be a pretty big heat loss. Going by the rest of the construction (very badly laid out lighting, no lintel above triple window, no heating other than 3k blower we removed) it wouldn't surprise me if they just didn't bother.

The interesting part is the roof would need insulating from outside, this looks a much bigger job. It would also mean removing the felt roof currently on the extension, which is at least 15 years old and I've repaired myself previously. I'm hoping this grant will pay towards the insulation and the replacing of the roof as one can't be done without the other, and maybe even drop a light fitting into the middle of the kitchen too instead of just in the corner!

Unfortunately no solar PV assistance, even though it would be the biggest saving for most households. It's just about heating this time round, so solar or air/ground pump.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
The carer looked at this a couple of months ago, but we didn't meet the criteria, which had a very narrow margin, along the lines of non workers claiming full benefits who own their own homes.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
The carer looked at this a couple of months ago, but we didn't meet the criteria, which had a very narrow margin, along the lines of non workers claiming full benefits who own their own homes.
This is the new one that kicks in next week, I contacted the council approved lot in Stafford and they said they were only bring trained on it this week. I'm calling back on Monday.
It's for working people, 2/3 towards certain heating measures
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
This is the new one that kicks in next week, I contacted the council approved lot in Stafford and they said they were only bring trained on it this week. I'm calling back on Monday.
It's for working people, 2/3 towards certain heating measures
I'll get him to look into it, thanks @tek-monkey, we have a decrepit back boiler and 25yr old central heating system that we would love to get rid of.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I called the people that the government web page says I need to contact, they still haven't been trained on it. Hopefully on Friday, so ring back next week. I wish I was surprised!
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I just called a supplier listed on the governments site, they also don't know what the deal is yet so are just taking details and will organise quotes once they are told the specifics. It would be pointless running around at this point quoting for jobs the scheme won't cover for people who will only use the scheme.

You can apply for a voucher from next week, but must have quotes to apply.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Just a heads up, now the government have released guidance the companies that are listed on their site are snowed under. Calling the closest 5 I have one placed in a queue to get a call back, 3 not heard anything back and one 'This giffgaff voicemail is full'. It would appear that getting quotes will be the hardest job, which also means they won't be good prices as everyone has plenty of work.
 

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
We don’t qualify unfortunately, potentially we could have got something towards windows that need replacing. But they were what was probably one of the earlier double glazing options 30 years ago and you can only qualify if you’re removing single glazing. Looks like we will be continuing to work our way around the house slowly.

We literally had a new boiler this summer too, I think it was being installed just as the announcement was made.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
We don’t qualify unfortunately, potentially we could have got something towards windows that need replacing. But they were what was probably one of the earlier double glazing options 30 years ago and you can only qualify if you’re removing single glazing. Looks like we will be continuing to work our way around the house slowly.

We literally had a new boiler this summer too, I think it was being installed just as the announcement was made.

Can't get a boiler this time round, just a heat pump or solar water heating. The flat roof is my main requirement, plus 2 old wooden doors to replace as a secondary measure, but getting quotes is proving difficult.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I chased the one company who promised me a call back, said they're too busy and they'll call in November to arrange a survey. The one quote I did get appears to be double what the job will normally cost, and takes almost the maximum government grant available. Nobody else in the area is on the scheme, it seems to be set up in a very specific way to say they helped whilst they didn't really due to the narrow range of tradesmen allowed to quote.
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
I chased the one company who promised me a call back, said they're too busy and they'll call in November to arrange a survey. The one quote I did get appears to be double what the job will normally cost, and takes almost the maximum government grant available. Nobody else in the area is on the scheme, it seems to be set up in a very specific way to say they helped whilst they didn't really due to the narrow range of tradesmen allowed to quote.
Pretty much the same scenario 40 years ago with the NCB loans to miners to convert from gas or electric heating to solid fuel. Only one approved contractor in the area, maximum loan amount was £1200. You want an open fire with backboiler? £1200. An inset boiler with glass door? £1200. A freestanding boiler in a utility room? £1200.
You seeing the picture?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I've contacted every company the government say I can use, I still only have one quote and it's extortionate. When the government mention this scheme next election as one of the things they've done for us just remember it was bollocks.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I actually got a useable quote back! Submitted, now the painful wait for them to decide to process a voucher, which is likely to take too long to allow the work to be done before the deadline.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
The same thing happened with car chargers for homes. 75% grant towards a home charger? That £250 install is now £1000. No joke, the ugly Type 1 PodPoint on the side of my house is £829 without the grant, installed. It’s a plastic box with a board in and some armoured cable, worth a few hundred tops.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Just extended the scheme by a year, as no bugger can use it.

Among other announcements that seem to be pretending to be new things like grants for buying EVs that have been a thing for ages and were reduced at the start of the year...
 
Top