Any grants available for 1st time private home buyer?

flower_fairy1

I am currently in the process of buying my first home. The house needs a complete refurb, no heating, no double glazing, no kitchen, bathroom etc.
I work full time, have no children, recieve no benefits,and have brought the house privately not through the council or housing association etc. so I think it is unlikely that I am eligible for any help or grants regarding insullation, windows etc but thought it was certainly worth asking.
The house is an old property, so will need new windows to help energy costs etc.
Does anyone know of any help or grants I may be able to apply for?
Thanks for all your help.

G_M

Listed building? you may get something (but doubt it).
Utility companies often offer insulation (walls/attic).

Try google or the http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

BigAunty

Sometimes local councils offer grants but these are usually aimed at landlords or people on low incomes/benefits but check your local council website anyway.

In Scotland, my local council via a commercial company, is offering free loft insulation and cavity wall insulation with no means testing for certain post code areas.

Sometimes energy companies offer money off a new boiler installation under a boiler scrappage scheme if the boiler is not efficient.

Generally house owners who aren't on benefits are on their own for maintenance/refurb issues.

19lottie82

flower_fairy1 wrote: »

heating, no double glazing, no kitchen, bathroom etc.

Are you a cash buyer? I didn't think lenders would provide a mortgage on a house that is "unhabitable" (tho I could be wrong?)

If so, can you take out a loan to refurb the house, as I don't think you will get any help in the form of grants, apart from maybe some insulation issues....

BargainGalore

Any grants will almost certainly be have to be paid back on a charge for your home assuming you would qualify. You are purchasing a house though which is cheaper because it needs work to it

DRP

G_M wrote: »

Listed building? you may get something (but doubt it).
Utility companies often offer insulation (walls/attic).

Try google or the http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

Yes the greendeal may well be applicable (in theory , you pay for heating/insulation improvements via savings on your fuel bills)

AlexMac

I assume you've checked this website's advice at -

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grant-grabbing

although I think the days are regrettably long gone when I got a 'home improvement grant' from the local council in the 1970's to replace the roof and install heating in a derelict Brixton slum which I got for ten grand and is now worth £750k according to Zoopla! Another example of the iniquitous advantages (such as 100% local authority mortgages and 'Mortgage Interest Tax Relief') which us baby-boomers enjoyed as successive governments bribed us to become home-owning petty bourgeoisie!