Grants available for homes improvements & energy efficiency

maytaurus

:hello:
It would help to know which council area you are in :question:

Sugarfree_Babe

kacy1988 wrote: »

i phoned the council 10 weeks ago about a grant for loft and cavity wall insulation. we are entitled to the full grant. i was told that i would be contacted within 4 weeks. after 5 i rang asking why i hadnt heard and they said due to a huge influx of claims that i could wait up to 6 weeks from my first call. so duely at 6.5 weeks i rang. still too many applications. they will get back to me at 8.5 weeks i rang again STILL no answers. i applied directly to warm front online who said they would contact me within 1 week. the week ran out yesterday

what can i do? i intend on ringing warm front tomorrow to make some enquiries but the receptionist or whoever she is at the council is completely useless and keeps palming me off with excuses. should i ask to speak to her superior?

I have had several lots of work done with grants, including warm front. I can tell you that on each occasion it took about a year from contacting them to getting the work actually done

I thought that was bad but in some places the wait is 2 years. Since becoming disabled I have had to learn a great deal of patience.

maytaurus

different areas have different ammounts of help from lots of sources and not just the council,
hence my ? Sugarfree Babe

maytaurus

have you looked here ?
If you choose your area it will tell you who can help
http://www.foundations.uk.com/hiasearch.aspx

Junglewood

pacer007 wrote: »

We are in the process of having an adaptation for our disabled daughter. It consists of a specialist bathroom with a wash/dry toilet, a bath that lifts up and a hoist. We also have had some doorways widened, a new front door with a low threshold and a ramp up to the door. It sounds fine so far.

This work is funded by the local council and is being managed by a company called “In Touch”. The put the job out to tender and builders were chosen to do the job.

My problem is that the quality of the work is poor and a number of building regulations have been ignored. I feel that the chap that is running the job just wants to get it finished as quick as he can no matter what. He just wants the £3,000 commission that will be paid for running the job.

My question. Is there an independent body that could come and look at the work to see that it complies with what it should? I am hoping that when the council come to sign the job off, the faults will be picked up. But, I know the builder dose a lot of this sort of work in the area. So he must get away with doing a shoddy job.

Some points at fault are:

The handrail alongside the ramp dose not compile with part M building regs.
No point of electrical isolation for the toilet.
No bonding of pipes in the bathroom
I could go on.

Thanks,

Pete.

Hi Pete, I had a similar problem. I had a home improvements grant from the council for a new roof. The council approved contractor did the work as his quote was within the grant amount. I was very unhappy with the quality of work so I complained to the Officer who was dealing with my grant who (reluctantly - had a bit of attitude from her that they were helping me and I was complaining) said they would get the Building Control Officer to come and inspect the work to make sure it was being done right. He found that building regulations were not being adhered to and the roofing firm had to make the necessary alterations (who also weren't happy). It was never a very tidy job but at least I didn't have water running onto my bed anymore! So, although you may have to live with shody workmanship the job does have to comply with necessary Building Regulations. I later found out that the council stopped using that roofing firm Oh, don't rely on the council coming and checking automatically because thats the whole point of them using a 'council approved contractor' it negates alot of work as they are supposed to be trusted to do the work adequately and follow all building regs.

Hope this helps you.

Junglewood

MSE_Wendy wrote: »

The It Pays To Watch team, Martin's Channel Five programme, are looking for people to talk about doing up their home with a grant. If you've had a grant for heating, insulation, repairs, and fancy being on TV find out more in this thread.

Thanks

Similar experience to Ken68 really. They either quote more as you are getting most of it for free or they quote much lower (so its within grant amount) but do a completely shoddy job as cheap as possible! And not always within Building Regulations and have the attitude that your not paying for it so stop complaining - I have even had that attidute from Council Officers.

cranberryqueen

I am an owner occupier in a block of 6 flats, 2 are still council owned. The council (GHA) are doing essential refurbishment works to the block i.e. new rendoring, new roof, etc and I am liable to pay my share = £14k per flat. Everyone automatically gets a 50% grant so I applied to see what I would get and was told I would just get the minimum even though I live on my own! I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation and if they have appealed? I don't know whether to appeal or not as they charge an admin fee for this and don't want to be paying even more.

Sugarfree_Babe

maytaurus wrote: »

different areas have different ammounts of help from lots of sources and not just the council,
hence my ? Sugarfree Babe

Hullo Maytaurus, I have been away. I am in Powys.

tommymcn

Hello all, i was wondering if the home improvement grant stretches to damp proof remedial work. I have a house in the Derwentside District Council area. I'm currently not in the house cause its that bad but im paying the mortgage and struggling. Any help much appreciated.
Thanks

AllNancy

I live in privately rented house. I am a pensioner but due to working for forty years and receiving two pensions which just about keep my head above water, I am not eligible for anything! I tried Warm Front but as soon as they mention benefits, that's me out.

My heating is a multi fuel stove and coal is over £15 per cwt. and that is the cheapest. I have solid walls and double glazing and draughts!

When Brown introduced the new measures for ALL pensioners, I thought.........Whoopee...at last but that seems to have gone very quiet.

Basically I suppose I am asking, where can I and thousands like me who paid tax for years, now get help?


Nancy