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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Regarding Gov't funded boiler replacement. Are they being unreasonable?

113 replies

TopShagger · 05/03/2018 12:39

I think so. Just made an enquiry about getting a new boiler funded by the a government scheme, as I have several friends who have had this done, completely free of charge. My boiler is about ten years old and fairly shit. Been told I have to make an £800 contribution to cover the shortfall in funding.

GRIPE being - family further down the road (should mention this is a street) has had this done for free. It's the exact same type of house, as they were all built at the same time. If anything theirs is "better" than mine as it was once owned by a housing association so has had brand new double glazing, doors, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and other bits and bobs housing associations are required to do to bring them up to standard. My house has had NONE of the above because it was never owned by the H/A - it's always been privately owned and the landlord hasn't bothered with trivial things like "improvements"

So they've had their "old" (not very) system completely stripped out and replaced with a brand new boiler - for free. I have to pay £800.

I obviously challenged the lady on the phone about this and she was unable to answer why this is the case. Anyone else had a similar experience?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 05/03/2018 12:42

Could the person who has the free boiler be entitled to certain income related benefits? My sister got a free boiler because her family was entitled to working tax credits.

athingthateveryoneneeds · 05/03/2018 12:44

The scheme is income and benefits related. It's not about the type of house.

BarbaraofSevillle · 05/03/2018 12:44

Or could your boiler not be as inefficient as theirs? Our boiler is also around 10/11 years old but there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, and when I checked out the numbers due to receiving one of those 'replace your old boiler with one of our shiny new efficient boilers' flyers ours actually used less gas than the apparently modern efficient new boiler.

Unless your current boiler actually is truely awful, I wouldn't spend £800 replacing a working boiler until it is beyond economic repair.

LoisLanyard · 05/03/2018 12:46

The amount you pay is related to your income and what benefits or tax credits you receive. A contribution of £800 to have a new boiler installed is a good deal cheaper than if you had to pay for the whole thing yourself.

LegallyBrunet · 05/03/2018 12:47

It's income related. My mum and stepdad looked into it as her boiler broke down completely but they weren't entitled to it as their household income was too high

Whatshallidonowpeople · 05/03/2018 12:48

Surely your landlord should replace the boiler? Why should tax payers fund improvements to privately rented properties?

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 12:49

I assume they must be claiming some kind of benefit because I think you have to be in order to qualify at all. I'm not sure which ones they get. He works, I'm not sure if she does (I don't know them all that well, they've not long moved here)

I'm currently on U/C as I lost my job at the end of last year. The lady on the phone said they go by the type of property, I explained the one I'm referring to is EXACTLY the same if not better and she could not answer.

OP posts:
Niceandwarmandhot · 05/03/2018 12:49

Your post isn't clear as to whether you rent or own. If you mean you bought from a private landlord, which I assume is the case because you are replacing the boiler, you should have had a survey done that checked the boiler and asked for a price chip if it was crap/old.

We're replacing our boiler and heater system. It's going to cost many times more than £800. Nobody will be contributing to it. Count yourself lucky and stop comparing yourself to others when you have no idea of their circumstances!

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 12:53

Surely your landlord should replace the boiler? Why should tax payers fund improvements to privately rented properties?

Firstly - ask the government
Secondly - I've been a tax payer for bloody years, I'm pretty sure some of it has gone towards helping other people?

Why should tax payers help to fund other peoples children? Why should tax payers have to fund YOUR bin collection? Welcome to Earth.

OP posts:
Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 12:54

Nice - no, I rent. I'm not really "in the process" of replacing it, I'm seeing if I qualify for a free one, only just started making the inquiries.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 05/03/2018 12:55

Are you renting or do you own this property. I expect the rules re how much you need to contribute will be governed by income and if you are on any other benefits. Most people have to buy their own boiler which costs a lot more than £800. So they're at an even bigger disadvantage.

Niceandwarmandhot · 05/03/2018 12:55

Top - because a private landlord is getting rental income and should therefore cover maintenance from those payments. That's very different to people on low incomes who need assistance with something like a boiler!

What sort of tenancy agreement do you have if you have to replace something major like a boiler? Confused

Viviennemary · 05/03/2018 12:56

Just seen your new post. If you rent then I don't see why you should be contributing anything.

Niceandwarmandhot · 05/03/2018 12:56

Ah then in that case, check your lease, because you probably aren't allowed to replace it. It'll be a landlord's fixture.

If it's a crap boiler, and you rent privately, your landlord should do it!

BarbaraofSevillle · 05/03/2018 12:58

Do you have DCs and do they? Maybe that explains the different entitlements?

I wouldn't spend £800 improving my landlord's property either, especially if it's one where I have no long term security and could be asked to leave (or choose to leave) at any time.

This website gives some clues as to the qualification criteria.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 13:02

My landlord is in prison. He seems to like it there. I've rented the house off him for about 7 years, he doesn't contact me, I don't contact him, I don't ask him to do anything because he's skint and couldn't even if he wanted to. My rental payments cover exactly what his mortgage payment is - he isn't making any profit from the house. Its an unusual rental situation.

What I'm looking for info on is given that the house down the road is exactly the same, how come I have to chip in and they don't?

OP posts:
FreudianSlurp · 05/03/2018 13:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

UnimaginativeUsername · 05/03/2018 13:04

Why should tax payers help to fund other peoples children?

I think the PP actually meant why should tax payers be helping to improve your LL’s investment?

So it’s not really about you and your children. There is a big problem insofar as the government does not force landlords to ensure that the properties they let out can be efficiently and economically heated. But that’s a different issue to the scheme you’re irritated by.

Niceandwarmandhot · 05/03/2018 13:05

Freudian - you do need to be a bit careful there as the lease will normally prevent alterations. You'd think the landlord would be keen on a new boiler, but if they're not, the tenant could be in trouble - eg if the landlord claims it's worse quality/hasn't been installed properly/the property has been damaged by the installation etc. One of the cases where it is not easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!

falsepriest · 05/03/2018 13:06

oOoh them pesky other people, probably on the dole, might even be a foreign type, bet they didn't walk backwards uphill to the coal mine in the snow like you.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 13:07

Barb - The strange thing is, the lady on the phone didn't even ASK me that question! The family down the road do have children living there, no children currently live in this property. But seeing as she didn't even ask, that can't be why (or at least can't be the company's reasoning for) the contribution.

OP posts:
FreudianSlurp · 05/03/2018 13:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

vandrew4 · 05/03/2018 13:08

We had a new boiler under this scheme. We 'phoned round lots of companies to ask about it. Some wanted £750 - £1000, some wanted £250, but a couple said it was completely free and that basically some energy companies / boiler fitters are ripping people off by getting the funding from the gov. plus a top up from the customer.
anyway, we didn't pay a penny, so 'phone around

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 13:09

falsepriest - what in the blue fuck are you rattling on about? I don't begrudge the other family their free boiler, I'm just asking if anyone else has hit any snags when trying to get one for themselves.

OP posts:
HotelEuphoria · 05/03/2018 13:10

I agree the landlord should pay for it.

It may be that the other family own their ex-HA property and are now on low income. Your income can be non existent and you can be in receipt of full HB, BUT the house is owned by the landlord who does have an income to replace it (your rent at the very least and probably much more) so whether you have been a tax payer or not is irrelevant.

The landlord should be coughing up here, it's not your responsibility to find the funds, not the governments responsibility, but the landlords!

Of course, if you have a working boiler then he/she isn't going to replace it now is he/she?