Possibly free energy saving measures.

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I thought I'd mentioned this somewhere but can't find it, and probably warrants it's own thread anyway.

Basically if your house is EPC D or lower and your household income is under 30k or you claim certain benefits, you may be entitled to free measures to make your home less draughty etc. I was told I wasn't eligible originally as I said I wasn't on benefits, turns out child benefit counts! Anyway, will be different for all, simplest way is to go here and look:


This is what mine came back with. I have no idea what I'll actually get offered, I have a phone call booked for tomorrow so will find out then. As I said I've talked to them before and they said I wasn't really eligible, and oddly it was because the child benefit took me over the earning threshold, yet they were classing me as not claiming benefits? Who knows! I'll post back tomorrow.

Screenshot 2022-11-21 at 22.50.37.png
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Oh yeah, it's not just for home owners! If you rent you can get your landlord free stuff too, for which he'll probably up your rent! Seriously though, all landlords need to get up to a D EPC rating anyway, so maybe you can use this as a bargaining chip. I'll apply for this if you do something else...
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I've just (well Friday just gone) done this as well. I'm now waiting for an inspection appointment.
Great! Out of interest what did they offer you? I'm seriously sceptical about heat pumps, I think I need better insulation first, but my boiler is about 18 years old and I have several single layer radiators etc. so heating may be a good idea to look at.

Any idea how long the wait is for an inspection? Reason is I have solar coming soon and that will up my EPC! They already told me they wouldn't install on my flat roof and my main roof is bad for solar so nothing lost there.
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
Great! Out of interest what did they offer you? I'm seriously sceptical about heat pumps, I think I need better insulation first, but my boiler is about 18 years old and I have several single layer radiators etc. so heating may be a good idea to look at.

Any idea how long the wait is for an inspection? Reason is I have solar coming soon and that will up my EPC! They already told me they wouldn't install on my flat roof and my main roof is bad for solar so nothing lost there.
It looks like I will get an EPC out of it; currently I have no cavity wall insulation, so I expect my property to come out at E (D at best), based on other similar properties near me. So, following the EPC, I have been told I should qualify for wall insulation as well. I won't qualify for a heat pump (as my gas boiler is only around 6 years old). I don't know if I'll qualify for solar panels, but I intend to ask.

As for the inspection, the person who called me couldn't say how long it will take, other than to expect someone to contact me, to arrange an appointment.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
It looks like I will get an EPC out of it; currently I have no cavity wall insulation, so I expect my property to come out at E (D at best), based on other similar properties near me. So, following the EPC, I have been told I should qualify for wall insulation as well. I won't qualify for a heat pump (as my gas boiler is only around 6 years old). I don't know if I'll qualify for solar panels, but I intend to ask.

As for the inspection, the person who called me couldn't say how long it will take, other than to expect someone to contact me, to arrange an appointment.
I have cavity wall insulation but I found a lot of it in the drain after the rat incident! Was installed over a decade ago, but I said I have a mix of insulated and not. A house on our street is currently being done up, and he's planning to do external insulation on a cavity wall house. Never heard of that being done but intrigued.

We used almost 80kWh of gas yesterday, just on heating. Thats on a par with December last year :(
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Just had the call, can't give any timeframes and admitted it could be months before we get a call back. Annoyingly I have a pay rise coming soon that will put me over the limit.
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
Just had the call, can't give any timeframes and admitted it could be months before we get a call back. Annoyingly I have a pay rise coming soon that will put me over the limit.
I think I'll qualify for the next 12 months or so.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Be careful with this. I had a letter via the council that my house qualified. Got the man round who spent 2 hours taking photos of all sorts in my house, apparantly to write a report but I never heard anything back.

My sister works in building and she says that insulating exterior walls prevents the release of moisture so you can end up with a damp problem.

Anyways I didn't pursue it, so just worth doing the required due diligence. It might be free but only its only so if it doesn't cause further issues.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Be careful with this. I had a letter via the council that my house qualified. Got the man round who spent 2 hours taking photos of all sorts in my house, apparantly to write a report but I never heard anything back.

My sister works in building and she says that insulating exterior walls prevents the release of moisture so you can end up with a damp problem.

Anyways I didn't pursue it, so just worth doing the required due diligence. It might be free but only its only so if it doesn't cause further issues.
Yeah, if badly fitted moisture gets in then can't get out, read about that. My mum had it fitted this year and they installed some fancy intelligent fans in the loft and bathroom for this reason.

I have cavity walls so don't think external insulation is on offer, was hoping for help with the boiler/heating.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Yeah, if badly fitted moisture gets in then can't get out, read about that. My mum had it fitted this year and they installed some fancy intelligent fans in the loft and bathroom for this reason.

I have cavity walls so don't think external insulation is on offer, was hoping for help with the boiler/heating.
Nah I was thinking that moisture in the house gets trapped in. Massive condensation issues apparantly so more mold etc in the main house
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
Nah I was thinking that moisture in the house gets trapped in. Massive condensation issues apparantly so more mold etc in the main house
Old houses, new building techniques. Need to open windows a lot. Cement plaster, no open fires and double glazing don't help. The fabric needs to breathe.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Anyone heard of a firm on Birmingham called Simply Eco? They have offered a really good deal but I'm dubious!

Basically as my wife doesn't currently work and the child benefit is in her name they say they can get us a part funded boiler replacement. Would be a WB Greenstar 4000, and includes a mag filter, full chem clean of current rads and fitting of TRVs as none of ours have them. They want £850 for all that, Parsons said they charge £2500 to install that boiler.

This seems a bit fishy, I'm calling back today for more info, but as long as there is no comeback on us if the grant doesn't materialise I think I'll go for it. I was going to pay someone to do a clean and fit TRVs anyway, I also need 2 replace 2 single panel radiators so will find out if they do that as well.

EDIT: These people - https://simplyecoltd.co.uk/
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Just called them back. Confirmed the boiler I get is def the WB 4000, with smart TRVs on upstairs radiators only and standard fitted to downstairs. Confirmed we qualify, they just need proof my wife gets child benefit, payment when happy with install and CC accepted.

I've booked a survey for next week, they need to come before the solar gets installed as that will raise my EPC!
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Weirdly there is only a 2 year warranty if done on a gov grant, 10 year if paid for myself, thats for the same boiler!
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Weirdly there is only a 2 year warranty if done on a gov grant, 10 year if paid for myself, thats for the same boiler!
Might it be one of those specials only certain companies can get that are a lower spec? Like Curry's have their own models of well known brands that are only available there which are a lower spec? Is the boiler identical model etc? The warranty thing is a biggie and I'd want to understand why if it's the same model of boiler?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Might it be one of those specials only certain companies can get that are a lower spec? Like Curry's have their own models of well known brands that are only available there which are a lower spec? Is the boiler identical model etc? The warranty thing is a biggie and I'd want to understand why if it's the same model of boiler?
It's a worcester bosch, so a reputable make, and they specifically said its the greenstar 4000 30kW. I can only find one model, and I've been searching!

I have however found a few other places offering government subsidised boilers, though none to this level, and all say 2 years regardless of make. It's odd, and I'm trying to find out more, but nobody I know that deals with boilers does any gov funding.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
It's a worcester bosch, so a reputable make, and they specifically said its the greenstar 4000 30kW. I can only find one model, and I've been searching!

I have however found a few other places offering government subsidised boilers, though none to this level, and all say 2 years regardless of make. It's odd, and I'm trying to find out more, but nobody I know that deals with boilers does any gov funding.
I have a Worcester Bosch and they are brilliant, but a 2 year warranty is a worry compared to 10 year. I'd want to know why tbh. Otherwise you could find yourself having to shell out again in just over 2 years.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Wouldn't the 'boiler guarantee' usually be largely a manufacturer-funded thing?

Have the government effectively bought them cheap on the basis of a reduced guarantee commitment?

Would the supplier be tempted to add the missing eight years 'extended guarantee' for a few quid extra? Especially for a fairly reliable device.

Perhaps...
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
You can definitely buy the extra warranty, and it's often used as a hook to get people to buy. In fact I've just done some planning work on a marketing campaign that offers a 10 year warranty as a special offer.
 
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