WARM HOME DISCOUNT NEW RULE

Ygritte

I’ve just found out I no longer qualify for the warm home discount due to my home.
I meet every criteria apart from their new rule about homes. The BEIS uses the VOA and EPC records to decide how expensive your home will be to heat.  So if it’s newer they assume it’s energy efficient. Unfortunately as is often the case with these sweeping kind of rules it doesn’t work.

I’m in social housing so it has no EPC, they assume because it was built in the 90s that it must be well insulated. This is not the case. 

It still has single glazed, wood framed windows and doors. I have had new loft insulation but the extension roof has no access point to fit any. There’s an integral garage which comes right into the home, bedroom and stairs over it. Zero insulation. It’s like a giant ice brick in the centre of the home. 

They fitted new boilers a few years ago but decided not to pay the extra for combi so it’s really inefficient. 

I spoke to the helpline and she was very understanding but there wasn’t any way to appeal this. 

I’m wondering if paying for an EPC will help in years to come? Any advice welcome. And yes I’ve asked the housing association many times for the upgrades. 

Spoonie_Turtle

An EPC is irrelevant.  As you've realised, there is no nuance at all - they run the calculation based on age / type / size of the property and that's that.

You would be better putting the money for an EPC towards any possible efficiency measures to reduce your energy requirements.

I'm shocked that social housing still has wood framed single glazing.  Maybe see if your council or HA are aware of it, in case they've overlooked you.  And if they are aware, ask them when they're going to sort it out!

macman

A conventional or system boiler is just as efficient as a combi. Are you perhaps confusing it with a condensing boiler, which it will be if fitted in the last 17 years?

Ygritte

Spoonie_Turtle said:

An EPC is irrelevant.  As you've realised, there is no nuance at all - they run the calculation based on age / type / size of the property and that's that.

You would be better putting the money for an EPC towards any possible efficiency measures to reduce your energy requirements.

I'm shocked that social housing still has wood framed single glazing.  Maybe see if your council or HA are aware of it, in case they've overlooked you.  And if they are aware, ask them when they're going to sort it out!

They are very aware. I’ve been petitioning them for a very long time to get them done. They started a couple of houses in the road before the pandemic but it obviously all stopped and they have ‘no plans at the moment’ to resume. 

I’ve spent what I can to improve things but obviously am limited and can’t access any grants to do anything as you have to be the home owner.  It’s such a mess.

Ygritte

macman said:

A conventional or system boiler is just as efficient as a combi. Are you perhaps confusing it with a condensing boiler, which it will be if fitted in the last 17 years?

You’ve got me there - it’s a baxi solo, so whatever kind that it.
all I know is it cost a lot more to get my hot water than my parents combi and I can’t get it on demand. I have to wait till it’s heated enough to be able to shower, wash up etc. But yeah the boiler is the least of the problems tbh. 

I can’t get my house above 15 degrees in this cold and it still costs a fortune. 

Ygritte

Delete if not allowed but here’s a petition regarding it https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/628877/

Chrysalis

Not surprised this has been started, I support the proposal so signed it.

BUFF

Ygritte said:

macman said:

A conventional or system boiler is just as efficient as a combi. Are you perhaps confusing it with a condensing boiler, which it will be if fitted in the last 17 years?

You’ve got me there - it’s a baxi solo, so whatever kind that it.
all I know is it cost a lot more to get my hot water than my parents combi and I can’t get it on demand. I have to wait till it’s heated enough to be able to shower, wash up etc. But yeah the boiler is the least of the problems tbh. 

I can’t get my house above 15 degrees in this cold and it still costs a fortune. 

A Baxi Solo is rated at ~89% efficient. However, a conventional or system is usually more efficient than a combi at producing hot water (combis typically produce hot water at ~80% efficiency) albeit possibly not as convenient (you have to produce & store hot water ahead of high use), Which actually works out cheaper for dhw use would come down to how you typically use dhw & how you typically produce/store dhw.