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

[TopShagger]

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?

Wanders in sniffs the air...

Aha >

No wonder the country is on its knees.

@dancingledge of course.

This attitude of "where's MY free stuff" is what irks me. Does it irk you more than the big corporations, people in top government positions and the powers that be's free stuff.

Lead by example Vitalogy. I don't call standing together for the betterment of the majority weak bleating.

Vita sounds like one of those people who doesn't believe in things like property ownership and the law (freemen of the land, do they call themselves?). I feel very lucky to be in the position to own my own home, what law are you talking about being broken and by whom. Funny how the word free riles some people up.

No wonder the country is on its knees. Any you think free boilers and benefits are bringing the country to it's knees, dear me.

Ok so we are getting a new boiler fitted in a few weeks which we have paid the extra for ourselves as we do get some tax credits but had to pay a contribution. A man came out and took photos and filled in forms then another man came
Today to check that the boiler was actually eligible to be changed (which ours was as he said it was leaking water and he could see where it has been previously repaired for leaks etc and a lot of corroded parts). Ours is 8 years old, how old is your boiler OP? As chances are you may be told your boiler isn’t needing changed, it’s not just a case of being approved and then they come and change it, there are checks done as well

Haven’t read all the pages, but as well as being income based, it’s based on the epc rating of the house. Also the company’s offering it do so because they get a nice cut out of it too, so ask around , find a different company they’ll all tell you different ‘contributions’. Also the level of funding grants change all the time so that could also be a reason - 2 months down the line the grant could be worth more, less or stop altogether- lots of variables to it.

They won't just put a looker in a rental property.

It will all have to go through your LL. plus he may have to much money to qualify (doesn't matter if it only just covers his mortgage- they only look at income)- it's him they will look at not you.

Also agree with Pp that not all landlords would be happy with the new boiler because what they actually do is stick a new boiler on an old system in the cheapest way possible so you end up with leak after leak, boiler constantly losing pressure etc, can cost more for the landlord than the fully functioning old boiler you had in the first place!

The landlords income doesn’t matter it’s the tennent applying for the grant, with the landlords permission to install.

There is no such thing as free. Someone somewhere pays. Inevitably ,and i must generalise, it is benefit claimants to get the free boilers ,warmer homes discounts on fuel and winter heating allowances whilst hard pressed working families have to cut back and turn their thermostats down in winter.

I know of plenty of situations where private landlords are having their properties refurbed and new heating fitted all "free" because their tenant qualifies as a claimant.

Only in madcap Britain..

I generalise so no need to rant..

To be fair we qualify, albeit with contribution, and we are both ‘hard pressed workers’ raspberry

Yes i agree carseeill, i know there are plenty of working people who also get top up benefits.

I would question why the UK Government is giving away taxpayers money to give some people free boilers?

Why not free carpets,curtains or discount food shopping vouchers?

The reason is that the backward UK Government are scared stiff of being fined by the EU for not meeting its CO2 emissions targets. They therefore throw your tax money at schemes such as free boilers, car scrappage, electric cars and all sorts of rubbish.

The absolute truth about new boilers is that they cost a heck of a lot more to buy,install and maintain. They also have a shorter useful life. They are also wasteful of water and gas and put strains on the gas and water networks.

In my home, my wall boiler is now 36 years old. it works perfectly,never breaks down ,is very easy to service and work on and my fuel bills are very reasonable.

We also have another farce going on. The "fuel poverty" scheme.

This scheme is for those who live in areas or developments that are all electric/have no gas supply.

Your Government pays thousand of pounds to have gas mains laid to them, your government wastes thousands putting in free heating systems to these properties.

All we need is for them to then pay all their gas bills..oh but wait,they do that in winter already !

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