Door salesperson offering free insulation/boiler
Discussion
Just had a knock on the door from someone on behalf of the council saying my house falls into a certain energy rating so qualifies for free energy saving upgrades such as wall or loft insulation, a combi boiler if I didn't already have one and so on. Wanted to take some details and then said someone would be back to do a "survey". I didn't give any details but they said they would come back another time.
Has anyone had any dealings with this? My initial thought was it'll be more hassle than it's worth having an unknown company coming to do work in the house - although loft insulation is definitely on the to-do list which is why I'm posting here to see if anyone else has had a similar experience. I googled the company name and it did have a few 1 star reviews although I don't know if they're from this scheme, or paying customers.
Has anyone had any dealings with this? My initial thought was it'll be more hassle than it's worth having an unknown company coming to do work in the house - although loft insulation is definitely on the to-do list which is why I'm posting here to see if anyone else has had a similar experience. I googled the company name and it did have a few 1 star reviews although I don't know if they're from this scheme, or paying customers.
Yes, 10 years or so back now, but was at a house I was at that was in a deprived area, ex-council house, they offered exactly the same. I was skeptical, turned them away but they came back a few days later with more information and was all above board. They did the loft and cavity wall, I still own (now rent it out) that house and it's been fine, was noticeable warmer during winter when I was living there and the tenant has commented how warm a house it is, compared to a previous house she rented. One thing I wasn't happy with is they didn't block up a hole into the utility cupboard housing the gas/electric meter, I only realised this when I went to do a reading and found a load of the wall insulation in there.
Zetec-S said:
First question... do you live in a council house?
No, I own the house - they did mention this, all of the nearby council owned houses have already had these upgrades, in fact I know of one or two up the road that have recently had wall insulation. But privately owned houses are supposedly now entitled to it as well. Edited to add in relation to one of the replies above - it is an ex council house. The street is a mix of private and council.
There are a few "free boiler" schemes but my understanding was that for private tenants and homeowners they were being run by central government rather than Councils. the amount of support you got alsod epended on the amount of benefits you received and your total income
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/boilers/article/bu...
For social housing there are various targets the landlord needs to comply with in terms of energy efficiency which is why they are getting upgraded boilers and insulation. IIRC they all have to be SAP C rated in about 5 - 10 years.
You have to be careful; there are some dodgy companies who are going around, offering free boilers, doing a shoddy job and then getting paid by the Government. they have a tendency to make themselves look and sound official.
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/boilers/article/bu...
For social housing there are various targets the landlord needs to comply with in terms of energy efficiency which is why they are getting upgraded boilers and insulation. IIRC they all have to be SAP C rated in about 5 - 10 years.
You have to be careful; there are some dodgy companies who are going around, offering free boilers, doing a shoddy job and then getting paid by the Government. they have a tendency to make themselves look and sound official.
Ex-council are included, as mentioned, mine is an ex-council property, most on the road are ex-council, handful still council owned, all were eligible. Like I say, mine was done under the scheme 10 years back when I lived there, I moved it and rented out the house and have had no problems. You are at the hands of whichever company it is though and whichever employees you end up with, but the scheme is legitimate.
We got the wall insulation and loft insulation done this way.
We'd lived in the house (renting) for two years and then bought it. It wasn't previously a council house, nor are any on the estate as far as I'm aware. My street at least there aren't any council houses.
Annoying bloke continually knocking the door and I assumed it was a scam, but whatever scheme that was available and was used to insulate 99% of the houses on the estate was re-opened to the few remaining houses it was never done to. Our house had been rented out since it was built in the 90's so I assume the previous owners had never bothered to get it done as the house was purely just rental income to them.
He took some photos within our wall cavity to send off to the scheme as proof we needed them doing and a week later they did the walls and loft.
Result
We'd lived in the house (renting) for two years and then bought it. It wasn't previously a council house, nor are any on the estate as far as I'm aware. My street at least there aren't any council houses.
Annoying bloke continually knocking the door and I assumed it was a scam, but whatever scheme that was available and was used to insulate 99% of the houses on the estate was re-opened to the few remaining houses it was never done to. Our house had been rented out since it was built in the 90's so I assume the previous owners had never bothered to get it done as the house was purely just rental income to them.
He took some photos within our wall cavity to send off to the scheme as proof we needed them doing and a week later they did the walls and loft.
Result
About 15 years ago i had free loft and wall insulation done by british gas as part of a government scheme to improve older housings energy rating.
Consisted of internal insulation at the front of the property and then external insulation and render at the rear.
Never really noticed any improvement though.
There definitely are schemes out there but i think we are so wary of the dodgy firms that its quite right to be sceptical.
Consisted of internal insulation at the front of the property and then external insulation and render at the rear.
Never really noticed any improvement though.
There definitely are schemes out there but i think we are so wary of the dodgy firms that its quite right to be sceptical.
Friends had similar a couple of years ago but started with a phonecall not a knock on the door. They got a new gas boiler to replace their old crap oil one one. They are not short of a bob or two so a mystery as to qualification to get it through th3 grant scheme. Basically circa a £3k gift! House is about privately owned, 30 years old and well built in a cul de sac. Value is easily above the average.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff