Loft Insulation Grants

[Triassic]

A friend is disabled and she lives along, because of her condition she feels the cold, so I suggested she contact her energy supplier to see what schemes were available to help with loft insulation.

 

She’s just phoned to say that their surveyor has just visited and told her because she has an upstairs bedroom which is contained under the roof, not a dormer, it’s classed as a room within a room so she’s not eligible under the scheme. Is anyone aware of any scheme without stupid rules?

[Temp]

Try the council. They may have grants for what are called "hard to treat" properties. Usually this means houses with solid walls but I guess it may also cover her situation.

[Temp]

Click on "Room in roof" here then "next"...

 

http://www.governmentgrantsforinsulation.org.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAtorUBRBnEiwAfcp_Y1ozihyXuXSR_j-iLI5IyZF7GTiZZLwPEVAJYOoIy4miNeBWNdbaXBoCl64QAvD_BwE

 

The devil will be in the detail. If she has had other insulation work done already she might not be eligible?

 

Is that the scheme she has already been refused? If so it seems odd. It smacks of the energy companies not wanting to take on "difficult" properties. Perhaps write to her MP. Ask the MP to write to the surveyor for an explanation of why the property isn't eligible.

Edited February 13, 2018 by Temp

[Ferdinand]

I know a bit of background to thes schemes as I have had several in the last year or two in tenanted properties.

 

In my experience loft insulation is still available for free in many places IF you currently have less than 100mm in your roof (i.e. 50mm) AND it is a simple roof. I have had these where they have refused to go into difficult to access sections such as roofs over rear extensions even at 1st floor level. (*)

 

I haven't met the dormer OK room in roof NOT OK distinction before, but I think it is likely to be because they are targeted on the basis of how many they insulate and how much greenhouse gases they save, and hard to insulate would fall outside that. Therefore the low hanging fruit is targeted.

 

Now that does not help in this query. This next might.

 

Local Councils have a responsibility to help adapt homes to make them suitable for disabled people to live in; this covers things like bathrooms ramps and stair lifts; I am not sure whether this covers insulation etc, but they may know where to go.  These are now called Disabled Facilities Grants I think, and the Disabled Rights UK website has information:

 

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/housing-grants

 

The remit covers improved heating systems, which may or may not be arguable as improved insulation. THere is also reference to making homes safe to live in, which might engage Decent Homes standards or HHSRS (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-health-and-safety-rating-system-guidance-for-landlords-and-property-related-professionals), which are (very) comprehensive. 

 

The other contact point is your local Homes Improvement Agency, who are targeted iirc at keeping vulnerable people in their own homes rather than putting pressure on the NHS. THis website has more info and can help you find your local HIA:

 

http://www.findmyhia.org.uk/

 

I do not know much about HIAs.

 

There may also be local charities or organisations with the ability to make grants or gifts if other routes fail and it is reasonably modest.

 

That is what I know off the top of my head, but I am afraid there is homework to be done - as ever.

 

Ferdinand 

 

* The solution to point one is to remove what is there already first if you are close to 100mm, and put it back afterwards or use it elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 13, 2018 by Ferdinand

[Ferdinand]

HAving written all of that I would judge the most likely thing I have run across as being persuading the local council to treat it as a Minor Improvement Grant for £1000 in England, which may involve making a fairly creative argument and perhaps getting an installer to nobble their price.

 

Summary here: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/funding-to-adapt-your-home-for-accessibility#funding-major-adaptations--the-disabled-facilities-grant

 

F

Edited February 13, 2018 by Ferdinand

[richi]

2 hours ago, Temp said:

http://www.governmentgrantsforinsulation.org.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAtorUBRBnEiwAfcp_Y1ozihyXuXSR_j-iLI5IyZF7GTiZZLwPEVAJYOoIy4miNeBWNdbaXBoCl64QAvD_BwE

 

 

I have a bad feeling about that site. Despite being a .org.uk domain, it's run by a company called Shelter 4 Green Deal. Its main site, shelter4greendeal.co.uk, implies it's something to do with the charity Shelter and is full of typos.

[Onoff]

31 minutes ago, richi said:

 

 

I have a bad feeling about that site. Despite being a .org.uk domain, it's run by a company called Shelter 4 Green Deal. Its main site, shelter4greendeal.co.uk, implies it's something to do with the charity Shelter and is full of typos.

 

Can't imagine there's anything untoward.

 

I'm sure too that English is Mr Jayasinghe Arachchige Isuru Bhagya De Silva's first language. 

 

https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/08489835-shelter-4-green-deal-limited?page=overview

[Temp]

2 hours ago, richi said:

 

 

I have a bad feeling about that site. Despite being a .org.uk domain, it's run by a company called Shelter 4 Green Deal. Its main site, shelter4greendeal.co.uk, implies it's something to do with the charity Shelter and is full of typos.

 

Humm I didn't spot that.

[richi]

Well, I signed up on the site for a callback.

 

Someone called at about 7pm from a mobile number, but I couldn't understand a word he was saying. I kept asking him who was calling, but I never heard a company name. I eventually heard the word "insulation" somewhere in the jumble of words, so I guess that was my callback.

 

Presumably he gave up trying to make himself understood, because he hung up on me.

[Triassic]

On 13/02/2018 at 10:44, Temp said:

Click on "Room in roof" here then "next"...

 

http://www.governmentgrantsforinsulation.org.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAtorUBRBnEiwAfcp_Y1ozihyXuXSR_j-iLI5IyZF7GTiZZLwPEVAJYOoIy4miNeBWNdbaXBoCl64QAvD_BwE

 

The devil will be in the detail. If she has had other insulation work done already she might not be eligible?

 

Is that the scheme she has already been refused? If so it seems odd. It smacks of the energy companies not wanting to take on "difficult" properties. Perhaps write to her MP. Ask the MP to write to the surveyor for an explanation of why the property isn't eligible.

 

she’s not living in the area covered by this company. I’ve suggested she contact the council - http://www.preston.gov.uk/yourservices/housing/energy-efficiency/cavity-wall-loft-insulation/

Edited February 14, 2018 by Triassic

[Ferdinand]

10 hours ago, richi said:

Well, I signed up on the site for a callback.

 

Someone called at about 7pm from a mobile number, but I couldn't understand a word he was saying. I kept asking him who was calling, but I never heard a company name. I eventually heard the word "insulation" somewhere in the jumble of words, so I guess that was my callback.

 

Presumably he gave up trying to make himself understood, because he hung up on me.

 

They are likely to be getting a referral fee.

 

Not sure whether that reduces the total amount available for insulation, or if it is a price reduction somewhere.