free cavity wall insulation question

geriann

i've been told because i get certain benefits i can get free cavity wall insulation.
[i already have the loft insulation]

the problem is i live in a maisonette. which means i live in a house, on top of a house. i know that might sound wierd. it means the people below me have a normal 2 level house. then i live in a 2 level house above that. so i'm sort of on the 3rd and 4th floor.

i've been told i cant have cavity wall isulation unless the people who live in the house below me agree to it. this is because they can't just put the insulation in my walls...it would fall down and end up in the house below me walls. therefore they'd have to insulate both the house below me and my house at the same time.
i did a search online and found this is correct.

but i don't know the that live below me, so i don't know if they'd qualify for the free insulation or not. i think they rent from the council. but i'm not sure.
[btw i own my maisonette outright + my electric/gas is with EDF Energy - obviously i have no idea what energy company the neighbours below me are with]
if they didn't qualify for the free insulation, would that mean they'd pay for thier half and i'd get my half for free? or would it mean if they can't get it free, then i can't get mine for free?

my maisonette [and the house below me] are part of a terrece/row of houses. i assume this means we can only get the front and back walls insulated? i'm assuming if i can get it done, it would still be worth doing?

if i can do the insulation who is best to do it? my energy company? or someone else?

it would be great if someone on here could answer my questions, but if no one can, who should i contact?

Ecodave

Grants in respect of cavity wall insulation will be out of the Energy Company Obligation. The Energy Savings Advice Service may be able to advise in respect of your entitlement. The people in the lower maisonettes should also call. The number to ring is 0300 1231234. If you don't own the freehold, then whoever does may have to give their permission.

How old is the property?

macman

As above. The freeholder's permission will be required to install CWI in such a property.
The natioonal grants for free CWI have now ended though, unless you can find a local scheme.

Ecodave

macman wrote: »

As above. The freeholder's permission will be required to install CWI in such a property.
The natonal grants for free CWI have now ended though, unless you can find a local scheme.

No, the Energy Company Obligation provides grants for cavity wall insulation where people are on certain benefits.

geriann

i've spoke to EDF.
usually they would do the CWI for me because i'm on the certain benefits, but they can't because they can't do CWI on a property over 3 storeys.
as i said my maisonette is is on the 3rd and 4th storey.:(
but EDF did say i should contact the Energy Savings Trust, because they'll know if there's anyone that can do it for me.
EDF gave me the phone number ECODAVE mentioned.

Ecodave wrote: »

If you don't own the freehold, then whoever does may have to give their permission.

How old is the property?

my property was built in the 1970's.

i think it's a Leasehold, but it's got many years on it. it wont run out until after i'm dead.

macman wrote: »

The freeholder's permission will be required to install CWI in such a property.

the Freeholder must be Cross Keys...aka the council.

macman

You think it's a leasehold? You'll be paying ground every every year if so, so how can you not know?

Ecodave

Geriann - did you call the ESAS number? Would be interested to find out the response. Also, I would point out that the Energy Company Obligation is a very new initiative. It may be that elements of it are not fully functioning yet, so if you get knocked back now, try again in a couple of months.

The energy companies may not feel the need to tackle the less straightforward projects like yours at the moment, but they only have 2 years to complete a huge amount of carbon saving improvements, and their attitude may change on individual projects as time goes by.

Also, if the Council are the freeholders of your property, then they will be the freeholders of the full terrace in all likelihood. Ring them and ask about getting the work done. They may have partnered with a private company to deliver Green Deal, who may be well placed to access the ECO funding.

Good luck.