MSE News: Don't miss out on Warm Front heating grants

simonne15_2

We are pensioners but don't seem to be able to get any insulation work done.
Because we live in a stone-built house, no-one we've approached will do cavity wall insulation because they say the cavities will be irregular due to debris in there and irregular blocks of stone preventing the insulation filling the cavity. In addition because the previous owner converted the roof space to make another bedroom, there's no loft as such open for us to lay extra insulation down.
Has anyone with 'inside knowledge' any suggestions - other than moving out? Thanks.

mcculloch29

I don't have 'insider knowledge' but there are materials you can use within panelling on the walls to help retain heat.
You can also get a roll of silver backed foamy stuff to put behind radiators to prevent heat escaping into the wall.
Looks as if I was lucky with my experience. BTW re the very negative comments on the 'Newcastle' fitters, I live in the North East and find the locals wonderful (I'm Welsh), I wouldn't live in any other part of England. I'm sorry for your experience, but I wouldn't call it typical.

margaretclare

We had a new boiler fitted in January 2007 under this scheme and we had absolutely no problems at all.

We had a back boiler behind the little gas-fire in the sitting-room but the thermostat failed and couldn't be replaced. In addition, we had 40 gallons of hot water in a tank in the loft which had to be kept hot all the time. We had the surveyor who took one look and said 'non-repairable' and that was that. It did take some waiting for, but the 2 guys who came to do the work were first-class, worked like beavers, did it all in one day and left no mess at all. It was all done exactly as we asked for - new modern boiler in the loft, the old one disconnected but the little gas-fire left in place, the old water-tank removed, everything checked, tested and left clean and tidy. It has worked well ever since. We pay for insurance and we get it checked every year on the anniversary. We use less gas - a win-win all round.

mcculloch29

Thank you for sharing another positive story, margaretclare.
When I applied to have mine done, I just asked for a broken radiator to be replaced as I didn't think they would replace a still working system. I was told that the pipework used in the radiators was no longer used as it was prone to many problems (too narrow) so the entire system would be replaced. It's had its first year service and breezed through it - absolutely no problems and me a very happy bunny.
The service engineer did comment on how nicely they had finished everything off, with pipework boxed in - he told me that this wasn't always done.

twiglet98

mcculloch29 wrote: »

BTW re the very negative comments on the 'Newcastle' fitters, I live in the North East and find the locals wonderful (I'm Welsh), I wouldn't live in any other part of England. I'm sorry for your experience, but I wouldn't call it typical.

No, no, I'm sorry that it came across as offensive, I didn't mean to imply it was typical at all - just that this particular team were apparently not based locally to me. My father was a Geordie and yes, it's a very lovely part of the country. We have more than our fair share of rude and very unpleasant tradesmen around here too.

NooNah_2

Does anyone know of any other grants for boiler replacement? I'm on a low income but I do get some working tax credits so don't seem to qualify for warm front. I have two autistic children and get DLA (lower rate for one child and mid rate for the 2nd child). Any advise would be appreciated.

mcculloch29

I don't know of any directly NooNah but that doesn't mean that they are not there. Try this link Disability Grants

Twiglet, if your Dad was a Geordie, you will know that those tradesmen weren't typical. Since I posted, I had some local tradesmen fit two windows. They were absolutely brilliant. I was worried as I couldn't move heavy furniture for access. No problem to them, and they left everything spotless.

DECC_Warm_Front

Thank you for all the comments in response to the MSE news article about Warm Front. I was pleased to read about some positive experiences of the scheme. Of course, I'm also sorry to hear about less positive experiences – that's why we have a clear (and effective) complaints procedure in place. We always welcome feedback on the sceme and continuously monitor key aspects of it so that we can maintain a high level of customer service and implement improvements wherever possible.


As the original article said, this is the final year for Warm Front, with funding of £100m available in 2012/13. We want as many people as possible to access the help that is available this year to make your home warmer, healthier and more efficient. So please do go to the Warm Front website (I can't post the link as a new member!) or call 0800 316 2805 if you're interested in the scheme. And please spread the word!

Gareth Baynham-Hughes and the DECC Warm Front team

mcculloch29

I can post links Gareth, and am happy to do so Warm Front Official Site

This is a direct link to the application form
Hope that helps. I noticed that the first pages that appeared on a Google search were not the Direct Gov pages.

Weary_soul

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Just to add, as someone who had her entire heating system replaced under Warm Front in April 11, - they were wonderful and it's great - under eligibility via Disabled Persons' Working Tax Credit, the criteria are now much, much stricter.
I would not have qualified under the new system, my old system was only partially broken and my income is too high.

Any idea what the criteria is as they don't seem to say much on the website.