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

BiggaThanBen

Majestic1919 said:

BiggaThanBen said:

Trying to find a double glazing installer in South East and the search gives me two options - in Cardiff and Manchester. TrustMark website shows no results. Is it it like bike repair scheme, good on paper non-existent in realit

Can I ask the name of the double glazing installer that you found in Manchester?  The list I was looking at seems to have changed and the one that I researched is no longer on the list.   Most don't meet the accreditation required and am finding this so frustrating.

Does not show now, only Cardiff is left. Weird, is there some sort of quota, maybe there were some in my area but have also disappeared from the search results now?
Anyway it looks like you can't do just double glazing, have to do an expensive 'primary improvement' first so turns out dearer than if you just paid for double glazing yourself, correct me if I am wrong 

tek-monkey

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

Hi all, not sure if this will be of any use to people but gives guideline costs based on size of house for various retrofits, most of which are not on this scheme to be fair. Granted it's 3 years out of date but hopefully gives an idea.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656866/BEIS_Update_of_Domestic_Cost_Assumptions_031017.pdf

That says a high cost for a flat roof is £100/m2, my only quote is putting my share at £85!  I think they're just charging me and taking the government side as free cash.

Quite possible/likely! Previous schemes of a similar ilk suggest anecdotely that happens. Also do bear in mind the sample sizes in this document are hardly massive so it's unclear how representative of the wider industry they are. It may be worth getting a quote outside of the scheme from someone else based on recommendations etc perhaps? It was also suggested to me during a quote that to be part of the Trustmark scheme is expensive, that expense only ends up with the consumer!

The ballpark figure from a local firm I have reason to trust is half what they want, but the local firm aren't involved in the scheme and say they don't want to be associated with it.  I'm actually tempted to use them instead, it will be slightly more than the scheme but I have more faith in them.

I'm intrigued did they elaborate on why they didn't want to be associated with it?
I'm hoping to have external wall insulation done on the scheme but the only company in my area that can quote me do appear to be ballpark with cost and seem to be reputable from what I can ascertain. They've been around a fair while, good reviews etc. and I'd have absolutely no chance of being able to afford to get the work done outside of the scheme. So I'm left with little option as I wouldn't want to go for a national company anyway as you just have no idea what you'd get.

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

Hi all, not sure if this will be of any use to people but gives guideline costs based on size of house for various retrofits, most of which are not on this scheme to be fair. Granted it's 3 years out of date but hopefully gives an idea.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656866/BEIS_Update_of_Domestic_Cost_Assumptions_031017.pdf

That says a high cost for a flat roof is £100/m2, my only quote is putting my share at £85!  I think they're just charging me and taking the government side as free cash.

Quite possible/likely! Previous schemes of a similar ilk suggest anecdotely that happens. Also do bear in mind the sample sizes in this document are hardly massive so it's unclear how representative of the wider industry they are. It may be worth getting a quote outside of the scheme from someone else based on recommendations etc perhaps? It was also suggested to me during a quote that to be part of the Trustmark scheme is expensive, that expense only ends up with the consumer!

The ballpark figure from a local firm I have reason to trust is half what they want, but the local firm aren't involved in the scheme and say they don't want to be associated with it.  I'm actually tempted to use them instead, it will be slightly more than the scheme but I have more faith in them.

I'm intrigued did they elaborate on why they didn't want to be associated with it?
I'm hoping to have external wall insulation done on the scheme but the only company in my area that can quote me do appear to be ballpark with cost and seem to be reputable from what I can ascertain. They've been around a fair while, good reviews etc. and I'd have absolutely no chance of being able to afford to get the work done outside of the scheme. So I'm left with little option as I wouldn't want to go for a national company anyway as you just have no idea what you'd get.

He didn't say, just that he wasn't getting involved.

tek-monkey

BiggaThanBen said:

Majestic1919 said:

BiggaThanBen said:

Trying to find a double glazing installer in South East and the search gives me two options - in Cardiff and Manchester. TrustMark website shows no results. Is it it like bike repair scheme, good on paper non-existent in realit

Can I ask the name of the double glazing installer that you found in Manchester?  The list I was looking at seems to have changed and the one that I researched is no longer on the list.   Most don't meet the accreditation required and am finding this so frustrating.

Does not show now, only Cardiff is left. Weird, is there some sort of quota, maybe there were some in my area but have also disappeared from the search results now?
Anyway it looks like you can't do just double glazing, have to do an expensive 'primary improvement' first so turns out dearer than if you just paid for double glazing yourself, correct me if I am wrong 

One I called said they'd get back to me some time in November, as local demand was high enough not to have to travel.  Maybe they're already swamped with work and figured they can stop taking names now?  It took these guys over a week to return my call!

johan46

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

Hi all, not sure if this will be of any use to people but gives guideline costs based on size of house for various retrofits, most of which are not on this scheme to be fair. Granted it's 3 years out of date but hopefully gives an idea.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656866/BEIS_Update_of_Domestic_Cost_Assumptions_031017.pdf

That says a high cost for a flat roof is £100/m2, my only quote is putting my share at £85!  I think they're just charging me and taking the government side as free cash.

Quite possible/likely! Previous schemes of a similar ilk suggest anecdotely that happens. Also do bear in mind the sample sizes in this document are hardly massive so it's unclear how representative of the wider industry they are. It may be worth getting a quote outside of the scheme from someone else based on recommendations etc perhaps? It was also suggested to me during a quote that to be part of the Trustmark scheme is expensive, that expense only ends up with the consumer!

The ballpark figure from a local firm I have reason to trust is half what they want, but the local firm aren't involved in the scheme and say they don't want to be associated with it.  I'm actually tempted to use them instead, it will be slightly more than the scheme but I have more faith in them.

I'm intrigued did they elaborate on why they didn't want to be associated with it?
I'm hoping to have external wall insulation done on the scheme but the only company in my area that can quote me do appear to be ballpark with cost and seem to be reputable from what I can ascertain. They've been around a fair while, good reviews etc. and I'd have absolutely no chance of being able to afford to get the work done outside of the scheme. So I'm left with little option as I wouldn't want to go for a national company anyway as you just have no idea what you'd get.

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

tek-monkey said:

ulltiger said:

Hi all, not sure if this will be of any use to people but gives guideline costs based on size of house for various retrofits, most of which are not on this scheme to be fair. Granted it's 3 years out of date but hopefully gives an idea.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656866/BEIS_Update_of_Domestic_Cost_Assumptions_031017.pdf

That says a high cost for a flat roof is £100/m2, my only quote is putting my share at £85!  I think they're just charging me and taking the government side as free cash.

Quite possible/likely! Previous schemes of a similar ilk suggest anecdotely that happens. Also do bear in mind the sample sizes in this document are hardly massive so it's unclear how representative of the wider industry they are. It may be worth getting a quote outside of the scheme from someone else based on recommendations etc perhaps? It was also suggested to me during a quote that to be part of the Trustmark scheme is expensive, that expense only ends up with the consumer!

The ballpark figure from a local firm I have reason to trust is half what they want, but the local firm aren't involved in the scheme and say they don't want to be associated with it.  I'm actually tempted to use them instead, it will be slightly more than the scheme but I have more faith in them.

I'm intrigued did they elaborate on why they didn't want to be associated with it?
I'm hoping to have external wall insulation done on the scheme but the only company in my area that can quote me do appear to be ballpark with cost and seem to be reputable from what I can ascertain. They've been around a fair while, good reviews etc. and I'd have absolutely no chance of being able to afford to get the work done outside of the scheme. So I'm left with little option as I wouldn't want to go for a national company anyway as you just have no idea what you'd get.

He didn't say, just that he wasn't getting involved.

The reason many small tradesmen don't want to get involved is simple: They probably have enough work already - perhaps they are booked for the next few months anyway. Getting in the scheme means they have to spend time to learn something new (do a certification) and there are costs to pay as well (for the certification and annual trustmark membership costs if they dont already have that).

Doing the paperwork and paying these costs for a scheme that is going to expire in March, when they know they'll have enough work until then anyway, is not worth their time.

For some of the measures the demand is questionable too - e.g. glaziers. There are probably not enough people that can take advantage of the grant for glazing. To get into the scheme for glazing, a customer would need to

(a) install a primary measure in the scheme first, already difficult to do,

(b) have leftover funds after the primary measure is installed (difficult, as primary measures are expensive and will likely consume all 5k) and

(c) have single-glazed windows to be replaced by double glazing.

Glaziers I have talked with told me the demand is just not there - almost noone fullfills all 3 criteria above, so they can't be bothered to get into the scheme.

fh97

Hi..

Does anyone know of any suppliers in the southampton area.  Tried to ring round a few from the energy website but they are just not taking part in the scheme.

Thanks.

Majestic1919

tek-monkey said:

BiggaThanBen said:

Majestic1919 said:

BiggaThanBen said:

Trying to find a double glazing installer in South East and the search gives me two options - in Cardiff and Manchester. TrustMark website shows no results. Is it it like bike repair scheme, good on paper non-existent in realit

Can I ask the name of the double glazing installer that you found in Manchester?  The list I was looking at seems to have changed and the one that I researched is no longer on the list.   Most don't meet the accreditation required and am finding this so frustrating.

Does not show now, only Cardiff is left. Weird, is there some sort of quota, maybe there were some in my area but have also disappeared from the search results now?
Anyway it looks like you can't do just double glazing, have to do an expensive 'primary improvement' first so turns out dearer than if you just paid for double glazing yourself, correct me if I am wrong 

One I called said they'd get back to me some time in November, as local demand was high enough not to have to travel.  Maybe they're already swamped with work and figured they can stop taking names now?  It took these guys over a week to return my call!

I keep checking the list and the ones that are on it don't seem to meet the criteria required and others (mainly 'consultants' (read cowboys) have disappeared.
I know about the primary measures and need insulation, but have single glazed windows so would like to find an installer that is approved.   So many local ones have Fensa certification and have been in business for years, but they don't qualify.
If anyone knows of a (genuine) glazing company in the North West who is taking part, please let me know.

flemingmd

happypie said:

I wanted to know if you can apply multiple times? Intending to use one vovcher only though. for example I have received a quotation from one installer and if I apply for grant providing that installer's details. Later if I receive another quotation from another installer for same measure, how can I go with this new installer if I want to with grant? any idea?

I asked question direct and was told I would need to cancel the voucher and re-apply for a new one with the new quote details. They would issue a new voucher subject to availability!!
I have questioned the rationale for this as it would save them money but they have not replied. Will update if they do. 

flemingmd

Has has anyone in Cheshire been successful in getting a quote for Solar Thermal? If yes who from. 

Thanks. 

flemingmd

flemingmd said:

happypie said:

I wanted to know if you can apply multiple times? Intending to use one vovcher only though. for example I have received a quotation from one installer and if I apply for grant providing that installer's details. Later if I receive another quotation from another installer for same measure, how can I go with this new installer if I want to with grant? any idea?

I asked question direct and was told I would need to cancel the voucher and re-apply for a new one with the new quote details. They would issue a new voucher subject to availability!!
I have questioned the rationale for this as it would save them money but they have not replied. Will update if they do. 

Just had this back:-

You will indeed only get one voucher to cover the work for the various different installers you will work with.

 

If you do choose to change an installer, you will need to cancel your voucher and then have it reissued – this is subject to continued voucher availability.

 

Thank you,

Green Homes Grant Scheme

GFG444

Just tried to get an installer to come and quote at my property- there are only 3 within a 150 mile radius of where I live and none available to come and quote as all snowed under with calls and requests in relation to this scheme.  I am also not conveniently local enough to any of them. One has offered to quote over the phone for underfloor insulation and a new front door and new back door- incredible that someone believes they can quote for these items without even seeing the property or measuring up.  The other company can not come and quote until January 2021!!! The whole scheme is a farcical attempt at grabbing headlines and will make a few companies a lot of money overnight, and leave the majority of people unable to access these grants.