New Green Homes Grant to give up to £5,000 in vouchers for insulation and double-glazing

ulltiger

mpet said:

Just seen this on the Gov website - they are saying early November for vouchers today - who wants to bet this will slip back. This will give installers even less time to meet the March deadline.

They've surely got to extend the deadline as Martin asked for? The installers have no idea how the scheme really works, both companies I spoke to seemed rather annoyed and are doing the best they can with little info, trying to second guess how it will work from previous schemes. A complete farce, why launch something that's clearly not ready?  I get they potentially want companies to not go bust but this is just going to create a spike in demand and then probably nothing for some of these companies for months on end as everyone who wanted something doing will have used this scheme. As ever if even I can spot some of the pitfalls why can't whoever is 'organising' this?

JannieH

We own a Park Home & were thinking about having some improvements done, then we saw Martins post regarding the Green Green Homes Grants.  We had already contacted a company about the work, when we asked them if they were part of scheme they said they had been trying to get on the list but the list compilers only seem interested in builders dealing with bricks & motar not companies specialising in Park Home repairs!  It seems Park Home owners are always left out of Government funding!

empeters

mpet said:

Just seen this on the Gov website - they are saying early November for vouchers today - who wants to bet this will slip back. This will give installers even less time to meet the March deadline.

Early November! What an absolute joke! I received a reference number but no confirmation. Imagine if they have lost my application or something and I don't find that out for sure until November! By the time I can reapply, installers will be booked up. Absolute joke.

empeters

AN64 said:

empeters said:

AN64 said:

empeters said:

AN64 said:

Despite trying numerous companies since the scheme was announced weeks ago I still cannot get a quote for external wall insulation. Would anyone who has managed to get quotes & have applied for the grant be willing to share the names of the companies they have been successful with please. Also which primary measures they are having done. Many thanks in advance 

What area are you in ?

We are in Yorkshire. Having absolutely no luck whatsoever 

Have you tried All Seasons Interiors Limited. They are in Sheffield. They quoted me without coming out or even speaking to me. The quote however, was £11,550 which was £2,000 more than my other highest quote. I think this price is quite inflated if i'm honest but the suppliers know we are struggling to get quotes. 

Thanks Empeters. I had completed All Seasons enquiry form some weeks ago & followed it up today with a phone call. I then received a couple of emails this afternoon & like you they have provided a quote from looking at Google street view. I had obtained a quote in the summer from a local guy who is not Trustmark registered & therefore cannot take part in the scheme. All Seasons are about £1500 more expensive which I suppose isn't too bad in the circumstances. Can I ask which other firms you obtained quotes from please

https://www.theecoroofandwallcompany.co.uk/
www.solid-wall-grant.co.uk

alansugar

Government handing out free money.  Lets all pile in.............
Wait up, and if one person takes my advice, my work is done.

Be very very careful about jumping into what appears to be a no-brainer.  The BIG downside to these grants etc, are the cowboys who are the so-called expert installers etc.  Even the well established companies have pitfalls as you will see below.

The small companies with little on no trading history will give you the BS about being insured, qualified and so forth.  The same BS that spouted from the mouths of hundreds of the Cavity Wall insulation 'Experts' that has left 10's of thousands of people with damaged homes as a result of rogue traders that preyed on people.  Naturally.. a very high percentage of these companies shut up shop after making a killing and physically destroying homes with negligent workmanship.

You think the company is insured no matter how small or big?  Hell yes, they must be if the government has approved them.  Think again.  Google the phrase 'WORK AWAY CLAUSE'.  It is without a doubt one of the sneakiest insurance clauses you can imagine.  In a nutshell.... the clause will NOT insure the company who undertake work BEYOND THE INSURED's OWN BUSINESS PREMISES !!!!!!!!  Where on earth do you think Cavity Wall Experts, Solar Panel Experts, or whatever Green Deal Experts undertake work???  You got it - they have to work BEYOND their own business premises.  In other words - a useless insurance policy that will not cover damage......  AND THERE IS MORE !!!!  What about claims occurring or claims made?  Your brain still with me at the moment?  Another sneaky way to avoid paying.  I am not allowed to post links, but Google the term and look for AON Insurance who are one of the big players in the commercial insurance market.

Steps to take to avoid misery if you absolutely must have to take advantage of the deal
1      Check every credential against the accredited organisations they claim to be part of.  For example BBA, Green Deal etc.
2      Request a copy of the traders insurance policy.  This is a MUST.
3      Check for a work away clause.  If it exists - send them away no matter if they 'claim' to have a warranty.  All you need to 
        regarding 'Warranties', is to check the ones that CIGA offered on those wanting to make a Cavity Wall Claim.
                                i)     Max limit of claim between £10k-£15k
                               ii)     No legal costs permitted (for those who are thinking small claim/fast track/multi-track - think again.                                                 those who have tried have had their proceedings stayed and referred back to arbitration because that
                                       is what the warranty says.
                             iii)       Any remedial work (ANY WHATSOEVER NO MATTER HOW SMALL) invalidates the warranty

4     Check whether the insurance clause is claims occurring and claims made.
5     KEEP EVERY E-MAIL, LETTER, ADVERTISEMENT FOR A LATER DAY IF NEEDED.
6     Reminder - any work away clause - show them the door and never let them in your house.

What you will find with companies jumping on the bandwagon, is that they have just sprung up to make a quick £££ and then liquidate the company and set up as something else.  

Just take my word from someone who has dealt with MANY of these types of claims.  Everyone passes the book and eventually you are left (not in all cases) with suing the trader who has - oh yes, gone out of business and were a limited company.  Good look in trying to pierce the veil of Limited Company protection.

In closing - be very careful with these schemes.

meggsz

I've looked, no installers/Companies listed in my area.

Anomnomnomaly

I'm in a bit of a bind with all of this.

I'm disabled, I live in a house that had some cavity wall insulation fitted over 30yrs ago... that's about 30mm thick in the cavity... double glazing was also fitted around the same time.... All of the windows have either blown or leak in some way, none of them close fully and there are drafts all over the place.

I'm bleeding heat all year round... and because I'm disabled... unable to get any help with this it seems... Doesn't allow for 'replacement' double glazing even though mine is falling apart, and I've been told I can't get the walls done because they already have insulation in them... However, when the roof was fixed I was able to look into the walls on the porch area extension and there is no insulation in those walls at all.

It feels like, this whole scheme is a waste of time... because people like me can't get anything at all... and I'm exactly the kind of person and this property is exactly the kind of one they say they want to get upgraded.

My house is freezing cold, and I have to confine myself to one room all day, and then the bedroom... and if I dare to try and use the kitchen or bathroom... I freeze. I can't afford to keep the heating on long enough to warm the house because it costs a fortune to heat the outside instead of the inside.

This whole scheme seems like a giant 'screw you' to most people.

SavitriJo

I did the green home grant eligibility quiz and it comes up that only ground or air heat source pump are eligible for the grant, not solar (which is of course the only option we can do) is this the same for everybody or just us?? I though solar was one of the primary things?

ulltiger

SavitriJo said:

I did the green home grant eligibility quiz and it comes up that only ground or air heat source pump are eligible for the grant, not solar (which is of course the only option we can do) is this the same for everybody or just us?? I though solar was one of the primary things?

There is nothing stopping you applying for any of the other primary measures, the quiz is meant as a suggestion as to what would be most beneficial. Although it's not really phrased like that. I presume you are talking solar thermal and not solar PV of course as that's not on this scheme ☺️

straalende

alansugar said:

Government handing out free money.  Lets all pile in.............
Wait up, and if one person takes my advice, my work is done.

Be very very careful about jumping into what appears to be a no-brainer.  The BIG downside to these grants etc, are the cowboys who are the so-called expert installers etc.  Even the well established companies have pitfalls as you will see below.

The small companies with little on no trading history will give you the BS about being insured, qualified and so forth.  The same BS that spouted from the mouths of hundreds of the Cavity Wall insulation 'Experts' that has left 10's of thousands of people with damaged homes as a result of rogue traders that preyed on people.  Naturally.. a very high percentage of these companies shut up shop after making a killing and physically destroying homes with negligent workmanship.

You think the company is insured no matter how small or big?  Hell yes, they must be if the government has approved them.  Think again.  Google the phrase 'WORK AWAY CLAUSE'.  It is without a doubt one of the sneakiest insurance clauses you can imagine.  In a nutshell.... the clause will NOT insure the company who undertake work BEYOND THE INSURED's OWN BUSINESS PREMISES !!!!!!!!  Where on earth do you think Cavity Wall Experts, Solar Panel Experts, or whatever Green Deal Experts undertake work???  You got it - they have to work BEYOND their own business premises.  In other words - a useless insurance policy that will not cover damage......  AND THERE IS MORE !!!!  What about claims occurring or claims made?  Your brain still with me at the moment?  Another sneaky way to avoid paying.  I am not allowed to post links, but Google the term and look for AON Insurance who are one of the big players in the commercial insurance market.

Steps to take to avoid misery if you absolutely must have to take advantage of the deal
1      Check every credential against the accredited organisations they claim to be part of.  For example BBA, Green Deal etc.
2      Request a copy of the traders insurance policy.  This is a MUST.
3      Check for a work away clause.  If it exists - send them away no matter if they 'claim' to have a warranty.  All you need to 
        regarding 'Warranties', is to check the ones that CIGA offered on those wanting to make a Cavity Wall Claim.
                                i)     Max limit of claim between £10k-£15k
                               ii)     No legal costs permitted (for those who are thinking small claim/fast track/multi-track - think again.                                                 those who have tried have had their proceedings stayed and referred back to arbitration because that
                                       is what the warranty says.
                             iii)       Any remedial work (ANY WHATSOEVER NO MATTER HOW SMALL) invalidates the warranty

4     Check whether the insurance clause is claims occurring and claims made.
5     KEEP EVERY E-MAIL, LETTER, ADVERTISEMENT FOR A LATER DAY IF NEEDED.
6     Reminder - any work away clause - show them the door and never let them in your house.

What you will find with companies jumping on the bandwagon, is that they have just sprung up to make a quick £££ and then liquidate the company and set up as something else.  

Just take my word from someone who has dealt with MANY of these types of claims.  Everyone passes the book and eventually you are left (not in all cases) with suing the trader who has - oh yes, gone out of business and were a limited company.  Good look in trying to pierce the veil of Limited Company protection.

In closing - be very careful with these schemes.

Thank you, 'Lord Sugar'. Your work is done!
That's really useful advice and I for one, will be following up on it. (If I can ever find contractors...)
Yesterday I found that one company suggested by the TrustMark site  - Green Grants 4 U Ltd, has only been trading for a month, according to Companies House. As you say, "little or no trading history". And only a hundred quid in capital, according to the documents filed. So that together with loophole-ridden insurance ain't much comfort if something goes wrong.