Free solar panels?

Tarkus2

I think people are misunderstanding what I wrote. I am all in favour of low income families getting free insulation and solar panels and I understand that it is to help with climate change. What worries me is that a private landlord could have all this work done for nothing and then ask his tenants to leave. What if a private landlord has multiple rental properties. Can he get them all done for nothing if his tenants qualify?

Evan3020

It will still help climate change?

paul991

well at least the tenants will get some free electricity. If you think it in the long run everyone on fit payments got  free panels in the end suppose its better than paying a french govt owned company for our electricity

Exiled_Tyke

Skintsaver said:

Lastonestanding said:

Screwdriva said:

This is not fiction. Several councils across the country had funds to install rooftop solar. See here for an example:

They generally install them on social housing, my friend lives in a private house.
He is retired, so he could have a low income, he is not receiving his state pension, he isn't short of money though.

You just needed last years income to be less than 30k and the last 3 months not to average more than that. Your epc d or less 

Yep this is what Leeds City Council were administering.  Details are here.

https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/leeds-homeowners-encouraged-to-apply-for-free-solar-panels-and-home-insulation-before-scheme-ends

70sbudgie

Tarkus2 said:

I think people are misunderstanding what I wrote. I am all in favour of low income families getting free insulation and solar panels and I understand that it is to help with climate change. What worries me is that a private landlord could have all this work done for nothing and then ask his tenants to leave. What if a private landlord has multiple rental properties. Can he get them all done for nothing if his tenants qualify?

It is generally not that easy for a private landlord to get tenants to leave. I understand that it is also about to get harder.

But what would be the benefit to a private landlord for getting the insulation and solar panels and then evicting the tenants? The people that get the most benefit are those living in the house.

Which is why I think free panels on rental properties is a good thing - I can't imagine many landlords would be willing to pay ~£5k for something they will literally not benefit from.

silverwhistle

Two issues here. Most landlords are ethical but is there anything to stop them getting the system on the back of a low income tenant, doing a no fault eviction and then increasing the rent for the new tenant (or moving back in or selling)? Maybe the incidence of such events was not thought enough to complicate the scheme.

What does seem stupid though is requiring such a low EPC. With FITs you were required to have 3 or above. Surely investment should first be made in improving insulation before installing panels? Although I now notie that the Leeds link does talk about insulation, but I'll leave what I wrote for comment, as I haven't got time now to follow the link.

70sbudgie

I understand that new laws are imminent (or recent) that make no fault evictions harder. I understand there is now a list of specific reasons that must be used when evicting tenants. I think landlords may also no longer be allowed to discriminate i.e. can no longer say "professionals only", or "no DSS".

70sbudgie

I guess some houses will never have a high EPC due to their age. It sounds like the grants are to help those whose home isn't considered a "quick fix".