Combi boiler on its last legs

Poppycat

We ahve a combi boiler (Woster) that feed hot water and 7 rads in our 2 bedroom terraced house. Its bene playing up for a few years now but we never have the money to get a new one, being on low income.

We try and have baths when heating isnt one as it seem to work better that way, but tonight the boiler keeps going off.

We need a new boiler but cant afford it, can you get any grants. My eldest has a medical condition with poor circulation (motor something or other) and is unabel to walk far because of a disability we only just found this out. I also have a medical condition, asthma whcih is b bad at present, cold doesnt help.

I am concerned give the bad spell of weather forcast that things may get cold here.

Any suggestions. Thanks

alanobrien

Approach your local council, the housing or health & social services department.

I know someone with a disability that got a whole new central heating system and had their house rewired.

Be persistant until you get through to someone who can help.

savesave_3

Sorry to hear about your boiler, I think you might be able to get one free or at a reduced price if you are on benefits, contact dss for help. Good luck

MyUserNamesTaken

Poppycat wrote:

We ahve a combi boiler (Woster) that feed hot water and 7 rads in our 2 bedroom terraced house. Its bene playing up for a few years now but we never have the money to get a new one, being on low income.

We try and have baths when heating isnt one as it seem to work better that way, but tonight the boiler keeps going off.

We need a new boiler but cant afford it, can you get any grants. My eldest has a medical condition with poor circulation (motor something or other) and is unabel to walk far because of a disability we only just found this out. I also have a medical condition, asthma whcih is b bad at present, cold doesnt help.

I am concerned give the bad spell of weather forcast that things may get cold here.

Any suggestions. Thanks

You need to look into the Home Repairs Assistance grant from your local council. You qualify for it if you own your home and are on a low income (WTC, IS, etc). To get the boiler repaired straight away, you'd need for the hot water to pack up totally, or get a corgi registered plumber to condemn the boiler. Your son's disability won't have any bearing on the matter, though. The Home Repairs Assistance grant goes upto £5k, so if there's anything else that needs doing, you can try to get it done at the same time. You don't have to pay the money back unless you sell your house within 5 years of the work being done. If your boiler isn't condemned or the hot water still works ok, you can still apply. You'll get stuck on a waiting list, though.


I've just had £3118 spent on my central heating (new boiler and bringing the system upto standard) and another £1200 odd on a new back roof. All paid for by the local council.


http://northernireland.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-3621.cfm

Poppycat

Thanks for the help.

No use with council I am afraid because we looked into home repiares assiatance over 3 years ago with repiar problem in kids room as it gets very cold in there, and basically its our house we should pay for it ourselves sort of attitude from them. When I pusued them further they said they dont have teh money and gave a lame excuse that the government are reviewing payouts and everything is on hold. In the end we had to find the money ourselves.

I will try again and check for grants on net later today. Cheers for help

MyUserNamesTaken

Poppycat wrote:

Thanks for the help.

No use with council I am afraid because we looked into home repiares assiatance over 3 years ago with repiar problem in kids room as it gets very cold in there, and basically its our house we should pay for it ourselves sort of attitude from them. When I pusued them further they said they dont have teh money and gave a lame excuse that the government are reviewing payouts and everything is on hold. In the end we had to find the money ourselves.

I will try again and check for grants on net later today. Cheers for help

I'd keep on at the council, as the whole point of the HRA grant is to helps those who own their own homes and who are on a low income keep their homes habitable.They certainly do have the money, too. They have a legal requirement to help you if you are on a low income, so don't take no for an answer. As said in my previous reply, you may end up on a waiting list if you are not deemed "urgent", but the money is there to help and the list shouldn't be that long. Your council is fobbing you off. Don't stand for it.

Poppycat

I been busy today. Council wont help, social services have been involved and my daughter needs to be kept warm due to poor circulation social services agree, but apart from giving me some numbers to ring, there little else the can do.

In the end it hasnt done much good so far, dhss wont help say I aint on means tested benefits, Warm front said I was ellgiable for a grant and could raplace a boiler but would take 6 months, hopefully sooner. They dont have any priority, its first come first served. Brother in law who fitted the boiler said its on its ways out, hopefully it will last that bit longer. Not sure what esle to do, its making me ill with worry.

Thanks for the help, its apprepiated.

MyUserNamesTaken

Poppy, which council is it?