Green Deal MSE Guide Discussion

jazabelle

I had the assessment last week via Eon and have yet to hear what's been recommended.

However I did have an email from the letter agents saying our landlord have declined permission for the free insulation. (I assume they're also declining the boiler, although this wasn't mentioned.)

They have given no reasons.

I'm quite cross - our boiler is very outdated and inefficient, so a new boiler could save us a lot - as well as him if it breaks!

ducky2004

Journalist123 wrote: »

Hi folks,

If you would be interested in having a quick chat with us to talk about your experience with the Green Deal, please drop a line to [EMAIL="journalism@billybriggs.co.uk"]journalism@billybriggs.co.uk[/EMAIL].

Many thanks,
Amy

An estimated £2.61 million was issued to households through the new Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) during the scheme’s first week, according to industry estimates.
.....
Mr Thom had also expressed concerns that the original Green Deal cashback scheme was being accessed mostly by the big 6 energy suppliers rather than small installers, following a freedom of information request which showed that British Gas was securing over 95% of the Green Deal cashback vouchers issued.

It is likely that GreenDeal / GDHIF will turn out to be yet another corporate welfare scheme although one that some consumers do benefit to a certain extend.

Redfred237

Hi, Can any one comment on finance through the GDHI. I am currently half way through a DMP so can not get credit to replace my boiler,(25 years old and is now leaking water).
I do not qualify for any grants. I have read on the guide that credit checks are carried out for any finance for Green Deal improvements and that they are not as strict as other finance credit checks, but on speaking with a British Gas representative today I was told that if I have a poor credit score then no one would carry out the work through the Green deal.
A little confused as I understood the way it worked in principle would be that I would not be paying out any "extra" money as the loan would be paid from the savings on my energy usage.
My question is this; has anyone on here who has a poor credit score got experience of getting finance through the Green Deal. I am trying to avoid paying out £130 for a Green Deal Assessment to then only to find out that I can not go down this option.
Thanks.

[Deleted User]

Redfred237 wrote: »

Hi, Can any one comment on finance through the GDHI. I am currently half way through a DMP so can not get credit to replace my boiler,(25 years old and is now leaking water).
I do not qualify for any grants. I have read on the guide that credit checks are carried out for any finance for Green Deal improvements and that they are not as strict as other finance credit checks, but on speaking with a British Gas representative today I was told that if I have a poor credit score then no one would carry out the work through the Green deal.
A little confused as I understood the way it worked in principle would be that I would not be paying out any "extra" money as the loan would be paid from the savings on my energy usage.
My question is this; has anyone on here who has a poor credit score got experience of getting finance through the Green Deal. I am trying to avoid paying out £130 for a Green Deal Assessment to then only to find out that I can not go down this option.
Thanks.

I don't know if they credit score or not, or if you have to have a really good rating if they do. I thought paying it through the leccy bill and them (possibly?) putting a restriction on your property via Land Registry to protect the investment.

Otherwise if you had a really good credit rating, why would anyone bother with Green Deal (not like they are) as you could get a personal loan on favourable rates.

farkkraf

Does anyone know what % is funded for windows and doors? I have spoken to somebody who said it was 50% but wanted to check this was correct? Also they said the scheme may be changing in the next few weeks to increase the % funded?

captainhindsight_2

farkkraf wrote: »

Does anyone know what % is funded for windows and doors? I have spoken to somebody who said it was 50% but wanted to check this was correct? Also they said the scheme may be changing in the next few weeks to increase the % funded?

That is green deal cashback, that ends in a week.

The home improvement fund started 2 weeks ago, for this you have to install two measures off a list of 12 improvements, which also have to be recommended in an EPC or GDAR. A full list can be seen here

It is 100% up to £1000

£500 home buyers bonus if you have bought your home in the last 12 months

£100 refund for the GDAR

colliers_wood

Summary : ignore it.

Tried to get quotes for external and internal wall insulation for an older (single brick wall) semi using the new green deal scheme:

75% off up to
- 6K (wall insulation)
- 2 x £1K (several options from a list, e.g. boiler, windows)

Companies chosen from a postcode search on the Gov's Green Deal website.

Quotes for external wall were ridiculous - 18K (with 7K off) - which was estimated to save £350 a year. The 3 surveyors expertise didn't inspire confidence (all had started work this month).

Quotes for internal wall insulation (Kingspan PIR board backed plasterboard) were even more expensive ??? Only 1 company we contacted was willing to quote. I calculated cost of materials for internal insulation would be about £2,500 !!

No one at all came up in a postcode search on the Green Deal website for smaller ("£1,000 grant") work like replacing doors.

Our builder said he tried to register with the scheme but gave up due to the requirements and bureaucracy.

There seem to be lots of national companies setup just to service this scheme (and the earlier 'energy companies obligation').

6K off isn't as generous as it sounds if the quotes are padded by 6K - its like the big companies have just put their prices by the same amount as the grants, and smaller companies/individual tradesmen cannot register due to the paperwork.

It like getting Anglian to quote 20K to replace your double glazing, and a local guy to quote 6K for the same work.

So, looks like it will be **much** cheaper to use our builder to do the work, than use a 'Green Deal' company with a 7K discount.

Despairing to see taxpayer money used so inefficiently!

savemoney

This is what concerns me about the new scheme, Green Deal Improvement Fund. I am due this week a GDAR survey cost £150. I have had trouble finding anyone who is willing to come to outer Mongolia (Scarborough) . I have reservations that any work could be bumped up in price due to so called discounts. There is no way I could find extra 11k to pay for solid wall insulation IF it comes to higher end quote. Even at 5k to find would be a challenge and I dont want to get into any debt or any savings made would be paid for by energy bills.

I realise there are many factors into solid wall insulation and around windows, doors, pipes etc but what I seen prices vary so much. If there are higher value I find I just wasted £150 or perhaps £50 if I can still get the £100 refund for having a GDAR done assuming no work takes place

highguyuk

savemoney wrote: »

If there are higher value I find I just wasted £150 or perhaps £50 if I can still get the £100 refund for having a GDAR done assuming no work takes place

Unfortunately, you can only claim your GDAR back if you get the work done.

Tillydot

This is just the sort of mis-information that seems to go with the Green Deal. It states on here that if you live in the East Midlands you can get a free survey. Having just telephone the NWS company apparently they no longer offer the free survey. I realise this is their error and not MSE. I have suggested to them that they should inform you of the change, and also they only offer around 6 green deals and not the 13 stated in the MSE offer. Very disappointing and has put me off the Green Deal comletley. I wouldn't like to think what their motives are for not informing MSE.