Government eco+ scheme for insulation etc

MolteniArcore said:
Wasted opportunity this. It shouldn't matter what band you are in - what should matter is if you need insulation and if that need would reduce the UK's energy consumption.

This could be a whole new public green industry with surveyors, fitters, manufacturers, apprenticeships etc etc - We could insulate the UK and be one of the best in Europe. We could slash our energy costs and reliance.

This will be just another half hearted effort.
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Without upsetting FG I think bands A -D will cover most of the population and the less well off. If you open it and make free for everyone think about a millionaire getting his mansion insulated for free - doesn't seem right to me.

Possibly you could issue a voucher to everybody, but they tend to be abused and are more expensive to administer.
 
ThatFragranceGuy said:
Looks like another round of insulation for homes announced

However fitting with the current scheme of support, if you are not in council tax band A-D you get nothing as you're rich and can afford this yourself despite everyone struggling

"General Eligibility Group
To ensure ECO+ will support as many people struggling to pay their bills as possible during the immediate cost-of-living crisis, ECO+ will support a wider pool of households through a general eligibility group. We propose the group will cover all homes in Council Tax bands A-D in England, A-E in Scotland and A-C in Wales, with an EPC of D and below. We propose using the Council Tax band proxy as a simple, easy-to-administer way of targeting homes that are likely to be in need while aiming to exclude those on the highest incomes. Households in this group are those who are considered more likely to be at risk from struggling to pay their energy"

Great for those who get it but almost everyone is struggling so this seems a poor scheme imo
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yeah I thought they were the tories, they need to address this and make only available to the top bands not the lower ones, wouldnt happen under boris
 
Glad its happening and targeting A-D. We are Band D and I'll be hammering this for the insulation, TRV's and thermostats I had already planned to install next year anyway.
 
BaronSmoggie said:
Glad its happening and targeting A-D. We are Band D and I'll be hammering this for the insulation, TRV's and thermostats I had already planned to install next year anyway.
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Wow, that shows the council tax band targeting is really effective - person who was going to do it anyway, so can clearly afford it, is going to take advantage of (or 'hammer') the scheme....
 
sherlock1969 said:
Wow, that shows the council tax band targeting is really effective - person who was going to do it anyway, so can clearly afford it, is going to take advantage of (or 'hammer') the scheme....
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Yeah, reading a bit much into that. I was going to do it next year, in a staged way as funds allow, but because there is a scheme available for people like me, I'll take advantage of that to get it done in a shorter timescale using the government support.

Isn't that the whole purpose of the scheme? I qualify, I'm being hammered financially just as much as millions of other middle income people. Whats got up your snout so much that you seem to be offended I'm taking advantage of a scheme put there to help people like me in the first place?
 
BaronSmoggie said:
Yeah, reading a bit much into that. I was going to do it next year, in a staged way as funds allow, but because there is a scheme available for people like me, I'll take advantage of that to get it done in a shorter timescale using the government support.

Isn't that the whole purpose of the scheme? I qualify, I'm being hammered financially just as much as millions of other middle income people. Whats got up your snout so much that you seem to be offended I'm taking advantage of a scheme put there to help people like me in the first place?
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Just pointing out that the targeting is not going to just get those that need the support. And will miss some that do.

Perhaps your gleeful use of 'hammering' didn't suggest relief at the thought of help, more just an attitude that there is something on offer for nothing and you'll have it regardless of whether you actually need it...just a thought.
 
Johnny Vincents Motorbike said:
A govt policy made as a result of direct action by protest group 'Insulate Britain' - do you remember moaning about them ?

a little reminder - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58916326
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Hardly as a direct result of a handful of protestors. More likely a direct result of Russia along with huge energy prices, and a realisation that even middle income homes won’t be able to afford to heat their homes as well as a need to reduce energy consumption.
 
ThatFragranceGuy said:
Loft insulation isn't £150 it's about £600 for up to spec. Cavity wall is about £2k+. You can't even buy the insulation yourself to diy it for £200
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The majority of the population should be able to insulate a loft it’s not a difficult job, and can be done for £250
 
sherlock1969 said:
Just pointing out that the targeting is not going to just get those that need the support. And will miss some that do.

Perhaps your gleeful use of 'hammering' didn't suggest relief at the thought of help, more just an attitude that there is something on offer for nothing and you'll have it regardless of whether you actually need it...just a thought.
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Yeah, like I said, you read too much into it and jumped to a conclusion without asking me to clarify. The joys of the internet.
 
If they really want to target it at the needy, I think they should consider rented properties. Landlords have no incentive, unless the current rating is very low. The tenants are prohibited from investing in the property or by their tenancy agreements.
 
Boro in Devon said:
If they really want to target it at the needy, I think they should consider rented properties. Landlords have no incentive, unless the current rating is very low. The tenants are prohibited from investing in the property or by their tenancy agreements.
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The government would probably say that the incoming legislation that requires rental properties to be an EPC rating C or better is the incentive for landlords. Sadly, the reality is that if landlords decide to sell up rather than make the required improvements, it will be the tenants that suffer.
 
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We're band E.
But I did the loft myself after we moved in years back. Didn't cost much.
Not long after got the cavity insulation done by a third party. It cost a negligible sum (I think the govt subsidised most of the cost and it wasn't means tested).
It improved heat retention ( it used the be freezing upstairs) but it's still not a warm house.
 
It'll probably be like the Green Homes Grant disaster under Johnson that was pulled after a few months. you could only use quotes from contractors who were members of Trust Mark of which there were none in my area or within about 20 miles. Tried farther afield but couldn't get anyone to come out to me. All the grants seem to have gone to private landlords in cities and large towns and no independent check that works the grants were paid for were even ever done
 
House prices have risen in all parts of the UK in the last 2 to 3 years - a 10% increase on a £220k 4 bed detached house on Teesside is worth around £22k. I would have though most 4 bed detached are worth these values on Teesside. Some will be worth a lot more. The cost of insulation could be set against the benefits of rising property prices for both owner occupiers and landlords.

But of course I haven't a perfect knowledge of all areas of Teesside. Nationally 4 bed detached houses are worth on average around £375k to £400k.

It will be interesting to see what is covered.

Social housing associations are installing/updating insulation they still represent a significant part of the rental sector. On Teesside - Nineteen (social housing) even have some brand new build properties.
 
ThatFragranceGuy said:
Is it a cost of living/ energy crisis scheme or a food bank scheme?
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The guy said that people who own 4 bedroom house aren’t struggling to eat and you replied “of course they do”. Just wondering if you were basing that on your own experience.
 
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D
RoaryTheLion said:
The guy said that people who own 4 bedroom house aren’t struggling to eat and you replied “of course they do”. Just wondering if you were basing that on your own experience.
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I don't think it's struggling to eat as such but some are really struggling financially compared to what they are used to more with debts and meeting outgoings. Then again these are mostly down to lifestyle choices.
 
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