Green Deal MSE Guide Discussion

captainhindsight_2

Tillydot wrote: »

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.

Sounds like it's MSEs fault for giving out dated/incorrect advice

captainhindsight_2

colliers_wood wrote: »

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!

It should be a good deal with the 6k cashback. Especially if you can get them to do other work as well whilst on sight to get some other cashback or other incentive scheme.

There is nothing stopping small reputable companies offering this scheme if they want to.

andyfff

Hi Folks,
I've been looking at green deal etc and was nearly up to speed with it!. however British Gas are doing £400 and a years free cover (we pay 25 pm I think atmo) ending next few days and our boiler is some 25 years old.
if we get the survey done/work done will this scupper any green deal etc (loan vs paying up front etc) we register for later or is this gas deal separate as I believe we don't pay for the BG survey. (I am aware the green deal survey look at the house as a whole BG does not).
(We are based in Scotland)
thanks,
Andrew

ducky2004

andyfff wrote: »

Hi Folks,
I've been looking at green deal etc and was nearly up to speed with it!. however British Gas are doing £400 and a years free cover (we pay 25 pm I think atmo) ending next few days and our boiler is some 25 years old.
if we get the survey done/work done will this scupper any green deal etc (loan vs paying up front etc) we register for later or is this gas deal separate as I believe we don't pay for the BG survey. (I am aware the green deal survey look at the house as a whole BG does not).
(We are based in Scotland)
thanks,
Andrew

They are separate. The £400 off and a year free cover is BG's marketing ploy. You are likely to still end up with a quote that begins with a 3.

GreenDeal cash back (GDCB) is it ending?) and the Green Deal Home improvement funds (GDHIF) are government subsidy schemes. They are nice, but rather bureaucratic. Also, a BG guy I spoke to say they won't do the Gas Heat Recovery method with the GDHIF.

The Green Deal boiler upgrade cash back is worth £270 I think and there is a trick to change a control/timer to get another £100, totally £370. (if it is still on).

nxf

Ecodave wrote: »

Hi savage80,

The Green Deal isn't a grant scheme. It's a financing mechanism, you end up paying for everything, plus the profits of the companies installing the measures. It is open to any household with an electricity meter.

It runs alongside the Energy Company Obligation, which is a grant scheme. New heating systems are unlikely to be covered where the occupant is not on benefits.

ECO Dave... Am I mistaken that if you finance it yourself you still are legible for payments under the RHI scheme??

aberant

aggypanthus wrote: »

I seem to be on the right track to finding out, tenants have to call company to arrange a visit to check their paperwork.
I also read somewhere, that the whole system inc rads may be reccommended/ awarded.

FYI, in England we went from coal fire back boiler with radiators to a full system replacement (i.e. removal of existing pipes / radiators) with condensing combi for free. Apparently, some of the big 6 offer this and some don't. British Gas don't (or didn't in October 2013), Eon do (or did in October 2013).

sazzle2

moved into a rented property in Derbyshire with no central heating system so used costly convector heaters. had a survey done with dyson energy services in oct 13, checked my ctc/wtc for income details (less than 16k) and have a young child, 1 week later all approved, fully funded by Scottish power and started just over a week later. mind you the landlord was very naughty and put the rent up when the short hold tenancy was up 4 months later even though it improved his property, added around 4k to the value and cost him £0.

sax11

just filled it all in and the online report came back saying there was no green deal in place and i may not qualify.

Offered me loft insulation , which is nice but as im in a flat i have no loft but no mention of windows as i put it's doubel glazed, shame the frames are rotten and the windows are blown.

pointless report but at least its saved me £100 ish on getting someone out

wacsa

My mother lives in a 4 bedroom semi-detached house by herself, it is in a bad state of repair. A hole in the kitchen ceiling, damp in various places and lots of other problems.

Even worse is that she has lived without central heating for over 20 years after the very old gas boiler was condemned, but worst of all she has now lived without a running water supply for over 4 years since a pipe in the garage sprung a leak. She carries 4 litre bottles with her and fills them up at my or 1 of my brothers houses and uses these for the toilet and kettle etc.

I won't get in to the history of why etc as it's a long story.

My question is does anyone know if my mother would be eligible for some help?

She is retired but has the state pension and a good works pension so gets just over £20k per year.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

captainhindsight_2

sax11 wrote: »

just filled it all in and the online report came back saying there was no green deal in place and i may not qualify.

Offered me loft insulation , which is nice but as im in a flat i have no loft but no mention of windows as i put it's doubel glazed, shame the frames are rotten and the windows are blown.

pointless report but at least its saved me £100 ish on getting someone out

if it suggested loft insulation and you are in a flat you obviously havnt filled it out properly.