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All these Government Funded Home Improvement offerings?

7 replies

HigherOptions · 10/09/2024 11:26

I keep hearing about all these grants and loans that homeowners are getting to ‘do up’ their houses. Apparently you can get money towards insulation, new windows, new rooves etc.., I’ve studiously ignored any leaflets coming through the door and Ads in the local community paper because I instantly think ‘scam’. But I’ve seen so many people in our neighbourhood getting new windows and rough casting done that I’m beginning to wonder if I’m missing a trick?

Just got a call from someone saying you can get money towards an array of energy-efficiency home improvements via the Scottish Scrappage Scheme (originally only for cars but now being expanded to home improvements). The company in question was called ‘More Living Renovations’ based in Blantyre. All very keen to come round and give us a quote. This time I’ve said yes. I’m sure they’ll try a hard sell but I explained we have absolutely no savings but they made out that wasn’t a problem?! All too good to be true I’m sure.

Has anyone received a substantial amount of money towards this kind of thing? We live in a tiny terrace and the windows are old and leaky. We’ve been here 6 years and imagine they were installed a few decades ago…

OP posts:
Invisimamma · 10/09/2024 18:45

It's a scam, or at least not it's not genuinely free or anything to do with the government.

They massively inflate their prices, one quoted us £40k for new pvc windows on a 3 bed semi, but with the 'government discount' brought it down to £8k to make it feel like a huge saving. But we got a local glazer to do it for less than half that.

Or they'll constantly add expensive 'upgrades' you are paying the same, or more than you would have without the grant.

Groovee · 10/09/2024 19:41

We got free insulation on a scheme.

UnhappyAndYouKnowIt · 10/09/2024 19:55

I got a free replacement boiler on a similar scheme

Willowback · 10/09/2024 21:15

The people who had our house before us got free cavity wall insulation and boiler, when it came to selling the house the surveyor discovered that the cavity wall wasn't suitable for the house - cost them thousands to have it all removed! They'd have been much cheaper to put in whole new central heating system and boiler rather than deal with the Freeby cowboys!

KnottedTwine · 11/09/2024 08:15

Groovee · 10/09/2024 19:41

We got free insulation on a scheme.

So did we but that was about 15 years ago.

DolyKat · 11/09/2024 08:28

I would say it can be a good deal, we got insulation with a substantial reduction through a scheme about 10 years ago.
But I would say shop around and get several quotes. As a PP has mentioned some of the companies inflate the price and then apply for your discount.

DogInATent · 11/09/2024 08:30

Most of them are fake.
There are a few schemes in operation, and there were a lot more in the past.

Always check via an official source. If it's government funded it will be on the government website somewhere.
www.mygov.scot/energy-saving-funding

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