Live in Braintree? Get a tax rebate

Mosh

Check out this story from today's BBC News:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3996345.stm

Basically, you pay £175 to have cavity wall insulation put in by British Gas. You also get a free survey to recommend other areas of saving and four energy-saving light bulbs.

In return, you save an estimated £395 over 5 years on saved energy costs *and* the council knock £100 off your council tax bill.

MarkyMarkD

For the fee British Gas will install cavity wall insulation, four energy saving light bulbs and assess what else needs to be done to prevent heat escaping.

And doubtless suggest unnecessary boiler replacement (at their inflated prices) and probably try to flog you 3* service cover

I object to local authorities giving council taxpayers' money away to encourage residents to do thing which are in their own self interest. If they are too stupid to get cavity wall insulation, themselves, why should others pay to subsidise it?

djohn2002uk

Just to make Markey feel a little more agrieved, our local council paid for our cavity wall insulation and an extra 10" of loft insulation and the insulation of all tanks and pipes in the loft last year. Didn't cost us a penny. Going to ring them tomorrow to see if the £100 off Council Tax applies in our area.  ;D ;D ;D ;D

loon_2

do you own your own property? because my council will only pay for their tennants and housing association propeties. us homeowners have to pay more.

divadee

do you own your own property?  because my council will only pay for their tennants and housing association propeties. us homeowners have to pay more.

same here they do nowt for us round here :-/ but i still have to pay £129 a month for council tax >:(

djohn2002uk

Yes loon, own property, morgage finished. Only criteria was that you had to be 60, just like Staywarm.
Knew nothing about it untill a lady came to the door offering it, and thought there must be a catch but there wasn't.

[Deleted User]

I live in Braintree, so we'll see what happens. I assume the rebate's only for one year.

[Deleted User]

Hurry hurry hurry, it's only available to the first 500 applicants.

[Deleted User]

In return, you save an estimated £395 over 5 years on saved energy costs

Where on earth do they get figures like this from? For a 3 bed semi I make the saving about £260, or £180 if the boiler's more efficient.