Green Homes Grant scheme - no installers

JudgeDekker

Hello. We live in an old house that doesn't have proper loft insulation.Exactly the kind of thing that the government's currently ongoing Green Homes Grant scheme should help with. We're in Oxfordshire, so not exactly the far edge of nowhere, and yet on the Simple Energy Advice website the nearest installer is fifty miles away. I called them plus a couple of others, and the ones that picked up the phone were so busy that they couldn't fit us in. Looks to me like there aren't anywhere near enough installers to do the work. Anyone got any bright ideas how I can solve this problem, please? Thanks very much.

philupnorth1964

I would look at doing it myself as you have to pay 1/3 of the cost & if you got the insulation from one of the big DIY chains would be a lot less than the 1/3 you would have to pay. I was quoted £1280 for my loft & the amount of insulation to do it myself from Wickes was £98 so I'm doing it myself next week

Justiceforme

Hi, there is another thread on this site under Energy.  I can confirm that I and many others on here are having the same problems.  Considering that some of these grants are for 10K, seems to be of no interest to most companies.

JudgeDekker

philupnorth1964 said:

I would look at doing it myself as you have to pay 1/3 of the cost & if you got the insulation from one of the big DIY chains would be a lot less than the 1/3 you would have to pay. I was quoted £1280 for my loft & the amount of insulation to do it myself from Wickes was £98 so I'm doing it myself next week

Funnily enough I was on the Wickes website doing the same calculation myself, Phil.

mollyandbazza

I live in Falmouth and looking for external wall insulation. I meet the requirements and have one quote at 8000 which is pretty good. However the builder needs to be registered to comply and there are so few that it’s impossible to get quotes or find someone who can now do this work. Shame as many of the houses in the street need this work done as they are only single brick rendered. I think this scheme is going to prove impossible to meet the high demands possible leaving a lot of frustrated people. 

RaqsMax

I live in rural Somerset and we are looking for flat roof insulation.  Nearest installer is Cardiff; took several voicemail messages (no replies) and camping in a queue to get through.  Not interested in coming to Somerset.  Next nearest is Manchester!  So how do we get an installer?!!  We already had quotes from local workmen lined up in anticipation of the grant, but as they are not registered on the scheme, now useless.  This scheme is absolute window dressing by the Government trying to make it impossible for people to actually qualify and get the work done within the 6 months!!  Unless you live in Manchester!

lgpollock

We live near Stratford on Avon so not the back of beyond, we do not need any of the primary schemes as our house has had some recent renovations. We badly need replacement windows as the next step. Could not find a local registered double glazing company on the list, emailed the scheme who replied very quickly with a link to a site of companies. Nobody within 50 miles, three builders said they were not prepared to register as too many hoops to jump thru and they were not sure how they were listed all though they did have FENSA compliance, one was too busy till next April, three said they were too far away to tender. I have spent about three wasted days on this exercise.