Money not spent on Green Homes Grant scheme will not be rolled over

9:10 AM, 18th February 2021, About 4 years ago 5

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Responding to concerns raised by the Environmental Audit Select Committee today that money not spent on the Government’s Green Homes Grant scheme will not be rolled over to next year, Meera Chindooroy, Deputy Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association said:

“Our own survey data shows that 43% of landlords are interested in applying for a grant and there is clear appeal in the potential of the scheme to ensure the energy efficiency improvements we all want to see.

“Given that just 6% of the budget assigned for the grants in 2020/21 has actually been spent, the scheme is simply failing to achieve the results Ministers had hoped. We agree with the Select Committee that the eligibility criteria for the scheme is preventing many from being able to access it and Ministers need to address this as a matter of urgency.”

In its report out today the Environmental Audit Committee notes that:

“The Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme opened for applications on 30th September. In November 2020 we conducted a survey to find out how easy it had been for home improvers to access. In total, 510 people responded to the survey. Alarmingly, 86% of those responding to the survey had had a poor experience with the process, although just over half applying had found the Green Homes Grant eligibility calculator helpful. The eligibility criteria, however, prevented many from being able to access vouchers for the measures they required: homeowners must install primary measures before receiving the same funding towards secondary measures.”

“We welcome the intention behind the Government’s Green Homes Grant. It is disappointing that the administration of the scheme appears to be putting green jobs at risk, rather than creating them. Delivery has been poor for consumers and has led to perverse consequences for installers, and the scheme remains too short-term to have any prospect of achieving its initial targets. We recommend that the Green Homes Grant scheme be urgently overhauled and extended to provide greater long-term stimulus to the domestic energy efficiency sector. The Government must be mindful not to repeat the mistakes of the failed Green Deal energy efficiency incentive scheme.”

The Environmental Audit Select Committee report can be accessed at: click here

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Comments

Beaver

10:33 AM, 18th February 2021, About 4 years ago

I agree with "....the eligibility criteria for the scheme is preventing many from being able to access it and Ministers need to address this as a matter of urgency."

I agree with this both for my own principal private residence and my rental property: By coincidence I have replaced the gas boilers in both my rental property and my own home this year; the only thing that made any financial sense in both cases was to replace one old condensing boiler with another new one. I looked at the scheme but the eligibility criteria meant that I was not entitled to do anything unless I installed cavity wall insulation, which would have been the wrong thing for both properties.

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Robert M

17:28 PM, 18th February 2021, About 4 years ago

Still awaiting my Green Homes Scheme voucher!!!! Applied via the Property118 recommended people, but Government changed some rules, needed more details, etc, and I still haven't had the voucher.

It appears to be yet another government scheme fiasco, that will cost a lot but doesn't actually provide the benefits it set out to achieve.

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Mick Roberts

5:51 AM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert Mellors at 18/02/2021 - 17:28
I can't make hear nor tail of it, u can help with mine one day Rob.
Apparently I'm not the only one.

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Reluctant Landlord

8:34 AM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert Mellors at 18/02/2021 - 17:28
Even the initial website where you are supposed to go to find an 'approved' installer for a quote is down. That says it all! From what I understand there were not enough registered installers to start with when the initiative was begun, so now a desperate rush to train more. (just how good are these companies that get rushed through certification?).
The only options I have for primary measures are external wall insulation, and there are stories if this isn't done well, this can be a nightmare to put right.

Bearing in mind the majority of companies who have been doing this type of work for many years themselves are being put off by the paperwork and hoops they have to jump through, they don't want to know.
So here I am, trying to to my best and comply, but can't get a quote, then am going to be worried about the competence of the company who then will do the work. I can only get some secondary measures that may well tick more boxes on the EPC once the primary work is agreed/done/planned, and now I have the worry that even then, once the EPC requirements are changed, none of this work could be assessed as being undertaken in the first place, despite it being carried out by those the government actually assessed and paid to do the work in the first place?
No joined up thinking, no real impact on the higher objective and another example of a load of money being thrown at something to tick a bloody environmental box.
I will be quite happy to explain this in from of a judge if I'm one of the first few up for not being able to comply with a C rating. Rule of law?? - rule of common sense has to apply!!!

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Mick Roberts

9:27 AM, 22nd February 2021, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by RL at 22/02/2021 - 08:34
RL,
U say exactly what I feel & have gone through & what the authorities & judges should be listening to.

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