Landlords - how would you feel about tenants getting loft/cavity wall insulation?

Lilibee

Our energy supplier keeps offering us free loft and cavity wall insulation, but we rent our house from a private landlord. I've emailed our agents to ask if our landlord would have any objection to us taking this offer up, but it often takes them a couple of days to get hold of him. So in the meantime, just interested in the opinions of the many landlords on this forum - what would you say if contacted by a tenant about this?

gavinbarnard

Id say great go for it.

We have just had this done and it makes a lot of difference with heat retention.

it's an added selling point for him if you ever move out.

theartfullodger

In principle, fine..

I'd want to check/supervise the work quality.. but anything that improves thermal properties of the place (therefore better EPC), reduces bills & maybe increases resale value should be good...

Why the government would want to subsidise evil capitalist landlord moneybags is another question (ah, oh yes, they're almost all rich b***tards themselves ain't they..)

aliasojo

I'm no professional landlord, but we will eventually be renting our house out. I would be happy if you got the loft insulation but not the cavity wall insulation simply because of the concerns as to whether it causes/aggravates damp problems. I would have to do a lot of research into it first before agreeing to anything.

pararct

I used to own a 70's built house semi detached. We had it done and were amazed by the amount of heat it kept in. Halved the energy bills at least.

If I was offered it for free I would jump at the chance. Not all houses are suitable though!!

Lilibee

Thanks for all responses. Interesting to hear that cavity wall insulation may cause damp problems, had not heard this before. I'd be happy for him to come and supervise/inspect if he wanted to - in fact, it would be nice to meet the guy anyway!

Several of our neighbours have recently had this done so I'm fairly sure our house would be suitable - and can't find anything in small print to say I have to *own* my home to get it free, although I guess we would find out sharpish if we do apply.

Guess it's wait and see what the LL says then. But if we don't ask we don't get, and at least it shows we are attempting to look after his house for him!

edinburgher

It sounds win-win for all concerned.

mumto2loves

my brother lives in a privately rented house, he had the loft and all insulation done free, he had to get his landlord to sign the form to show his consent. i think his landlord was more than happy

G_M

theartfullodger wrote: »

...

Why the government would want to subsidise evil capitalist landlord moneybags is another question (ah, oh yes, they're almost all rich b***tards themselves ain't they..)

Setting aside your naive generalisation of landlords (:rotfl:), the beneficiary of the insulation is the person who pays the energy bills - the occupant. In this case, a tenant.

(No, don't bother to point out the marginal improvement in 'saleability' of the property - I know....)

Lilibee

mumto2loves wrote: »

my brother lives in a privately rented house, he had the loft and all insulation done free, he had to get his landlord to sign the form to show his consent. i think his landlord was more than happy

Thanks for info, good to know! :beer:

daisygrabber

As a landlord, we paid £250 each for loft insulation & cavity wall insulation for our little 2 bed but detatched house. Consider the £500 money very well spent. This was subsidised by E-on but had the tenants been over 70 or on benefits, it would have been free & I would have been very pleased to have it free!!
It has made a tremendous feel to the place and actually helped keep damp at bay.