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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:
Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 13:49

Nope, wrong again. The government has a scheme wherein they offer people who qualify a funded boiler upgrade. The point of this is TO REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND CARBON EMISSIONS - they do not CARE who owns the house. They don't care if it's owned by the person making the inquiry, they don't care if it's rented from a private landlord.

Wrong YET AGAIN - he is neither a friend or relative, I obviously know who he is, I know what his mortgage payments are and I obviously know how much I pay in rent. So as for "this bullshit" about him not making a profit, other than in the sense that, yes, I am effectively buying him a house, he has 25 years remaining on the the mortgage so I'm not going to dwell in that area of the discussion. It ISN'T making him any money RIGHT NOW - that's what I meant by profit.

OP posts:
Vitalogy · 05/03/2018 13:50

It's TAX PAYERS' MONEY. I know, where the heck does it all go. Not on bl**dy boiler schemes I tells ya.

k2p2k2tog · 05/03/2018 13:50

With these sorts of schemes it's NOT about the type of house, it's about that house's ownership.

Green Deal is supposed to help tenants on low incomes, priority is given to those living in social housing. In some situations landlords MAY be eligible for grants but these are very few and far between.

Bottom line is that public funds should not be used to upgrade private property.

unintentionalthreadkiller · 05/03/2018 13:50

So you rent from a family member or friend who's in prison and you think they should get a nice new boiler for free?? I'm struggling here.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 13:53

unintentional - of course you're struggling - you haven't read the thread. Start there, it isn't overly long.

OP posts:
Vitalogy · 05/03/2018 13:55

The boiler has to be 8+ years old was another thing mentioned on the site.

RoomOfRequirement · 05/03/2018 13:56

I know what the scheme is - and it looks like you've even been accepted! But you're on here complaining that you'd have to make a contribution? Which is a lot less than a new boiler would actually cost you, but your anger is still at the government for not giving you even MORE money, instead of aimed at your landlord who appears to be completely useless?

THIS. IS. HIS. RESPONSIBILITY.

Absolutely do not believe you're not related.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 14:02

And yet you're arguing as though you don't know what the scheme is. If the point is to reduce emissions and burn less fuel (which it is, btw) and an newer boiler can help to achieve this then it is deemed "necessary"

I'm not on here "complaining" about anything, I am questioning the criteria, in the hopes some people will know more than I do and help to shed some light on it. That's often what internet forums are used for.

As for my landlord being useless, yes, he is.

As for us being related, I don't care (even a tiny bit) what you believe, I know we aren't related, nor are we friends. He's just someone I know. He used to live in this house, then moved out with his girlfriend and has spent most of the time since (including right now) in prison.

Believe what you like, I really don't mind.

OP posts:
Vitalogy · 05/03/2018 14:05

I am not 'enslaved' because I paid for my own boiler You're enslaved in the system like all of us, unless living off grid and self sufficient then that's what we are. For example: All the gas supply comes through from the same source, the illusion is that we have a choice of energy suppliers which is total BS. I don't want to get involved in a back and forth argument with you but if it's important to you, you can research it yourself. I'll leave it there though.

ilovekitkats · 05/03/2018 14:05

I had to pay £250 towards mine as the grant is income based.

I also had to show my mortgage statement to prove that I owned the house.

I know that some tenants can get them done though if the landlord gives permission.

ilovekitkats · 05/03/2018 14:09

Posted too soon, tenants also need to be receiving certain benefits or tax credits

RoomOfRequirement · 05/03/2018 14:10

But it is a scheme with limited funding. Funding from tax payers. They have offered you a new boiler, but it requires a contribution from you. Well, actually, your landlord. Surely it's a small price to pay for reducing the carbon footprint you care so much about? Its certainly a lot less than responsible homeowners (which your landlord is not) had to pay for an energy efficient boiler.

And that's before I get into the ridiculousness of your shitty landlord contributing nothing to society, costing us thousands of pounds while in prison, yet still expecting tax payers to get him a new boiler.

hibbledibble · 05/03/2018 14:11

Even if you don't think your landlord would care about you replacing the boiler, I wouldn't replace it without his written consent. Down the line he could hold you liable if something happened with the new boiler and you replaced it without his consent.

I'm also gobsmacked that government funds are used to buy new boilers for private landlords. In the current times of austerity, it doesn't seem like the best use of available funds.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 14:12

Kitkats - yes, you are correct. Which proves my point that the gov't aren't in the least bit interested in whether it's rented or owned because the goal isn't so much "home improvement" as the carbon emissions/fuel thing. If anyone thinks the gov't shouldn't be doing this then they will need to argue against lowering carbon emissions - good luck with that :)

OP posts:
nogrip · 05/03/2018 14:14

Well you're fucking rude Op, that's for sure

springtimeforall · 05/03/2018 14:15

Tenants could get them done with landlords permission, our tenant has disability benefits and our agent sent us information about the scheme. We didn't want to do it as we felt the boiler was working fine but our income or the fact the house was rented was irrelevant rather to my surprise.

Niceandwarmandhot · 05/03/2018 14:17

So just to clarify: you're on UC, your landlord is in prison, at a cost of thousands to the taxpayer - and you still want the taxpayer to cough up for a new boiler?

Got it.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 14:19

Room - let's stop the bickering. You're emphasising tax payers as if I'm not one. I've worked full time since I was 15, I lost my job beginning of October and now unfortunately have to claim benefits. I do not enjoy doing this, nor do I enjoy the fact that my landlord is, as you say, useless. It suits in some respects because he doesn't bother me but in others it doesn't. Like the fact I know I have no hope of getting him to replace the boiler, for instance. Years ago I owned my house, it didn't even have central heating, I paid for it to be installed. Now my circumstances are vastly different and I don't have the £800 contribution.

Hate on me all you want, I'm thick skinned. My primary concern is a boiler that burns less fuel, and so doesn't cost me as much to run.

OP posts:
Maryann1975 · 05/03/2018 14:22

I know EXACTLY what you're talking about, and I think it is absolutely ridiculous that you expect the government to do your Landlords job. It is entitled as fuck. If people want to privately rent out their properties, they need to take responsibility for ALL aspects of private rent, and not just pocketing a cheque. And do not start with your bullshit about him not making a profit - HE IS GETTING A HOUSE PAID FOR HIM.
^this^

The landlord will have made a tidy little profit when he comes out of prison. He will own a house that he can either live in or sell and live of the profits. Nice little earner for him. If he can’t afford to keep the house up to standard for it to be rented out, he should sell it on. We rented our house out for a bit (dh was in the military and we moved from the area) and we rented it out at a loss compared to the mortgage but when we look back, it wasn’t a loss, becasue the mortgage still needed to be paid, so anything that was paid in rent was profit.

halcyondays · 05/03/2018 14:26

What's wrong with your boiler?
Where I am your boiler has to be 15 years old before you might qualify for a grant towards replacement, depending on income.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 14:28

you're on UC - yes, because having worked full time since I was 15 I lost my job last October

your landlord is in prison - Yup - my fault is it?

at a cost of thousands to the taxpayer - of which I am one

and you still want the taxpayer to cough up for a new boiler?
The scheme exists, I didn't invent it.

Got it - Unless you mean confusion, you definitely aint "got it"

OP posts:
RoomOfRequirement · 05/03/2018 14:29

OP - I'm not 'hating' on YOU, but absolutely am hating on your landlord.

I do think you're coming across as entitled, but maybe that's just the tone.

The facts are, you applied, they said yes we will replace your boiler, it will require a contribution from your landlord, you weren't happy it wasn't completely free. A service which isn't a right in any way, and has limited funding.

It absolutely infuriates me that private landlords benefit financially from private renting, yet accept none of the responsibilities that come along with it.

Niceandwarmandhot · 05/03/2018 14:32

No, I've got it alright.

You want a new boiler and you think you should get it "for free" despite the fact that it would ultimately benefit your landlord and that you are currently getting support. You're also angry that others appear to be getting "more" support than you.

mygoditsfullofstars · 05/03/2018 14:39

Aren't you worried that if the landlord knows you have put in a new boiler he will either move back in himself or raise the rent and kick you out? Bit of a gamble. Landlords aren't known for their altruism.

Original poster
TopShagger · 05/03/2018 14:41

Nope, not angry. Perplexed, yes, angry no. If you read the OP, my penultimate question was has anyone else had any snags with these schemes. I explained that the house down the road has had this done for free, when it's exactly the same type of house, yet I don't qualify. I wanted to know if anyone could offer suggestions as to why I don't.

Would I like a boiler that burns less fuel? Yes, yes I would. How unreasonable of me. If you take issue with the fact that the gov't also offer this to privately rented properties, take it up with them.

That's not to anyone in particular btw.

OP posts: