Q&A with Greg Barker MP: what’s the new Green Deal fund?

Question 1: Good you listened to the views of people about what they want but why didn’t you listen to people on day one of the Green deal launch? Had you done so progress towards making UK housing stock more efficient would not have fallen so far behind.

Question 2: It was never a prerequisite to take out a Green Deal finance plan and with a high variable interest rate a good job too. The Green deal assessment also if you opted not to be Green Deal financed is and was unnecessary a much cheaper EPC (which you need anyway if letting or selling) would tell you basically the same thing. Even just common sense in most cases would tell you if you need for example more insulation or a better heating system.

Question 3: There is nothing to stop providers and installers putting up the price of these measures to maximise their profits. In fact they do, if only to cover the paperwork costs of Green Deal registration. Example, compare the cost of a replacement boiler from a gas safe local plumber and an approved supplier like British Gas?

Question 4: Tenants have always been able to apply for a Green Deal improvement but is it right and fair that they should pay to upgrade a property they don’t own? Surely there should be a minimum efficiency rating for rental property and costs to achieve that rating should be down to the landlord.

Question 5: So the money is only there after the job has been done and you have to “apply”? Great potential for that going wrong I’d say. Finance it yourself either from savings or via a much cheaper loan, use a local tradesman who will be cheaper and it will all work out without any problem.

I’d say the Green Deal still needs work before it’s a good deal, and I think the rate of take up supports that point of view. I’d even say what we had before which was basically a system of subsidy and grants worked much better and, so long as those subsidies and grants are financed through general taxation rather than by surcharging the hard pressed energy bill payer, that is what we should return to.

I wonder if this scheme actually exists!
I’ve been waiting since before Christmas for a new boiler. each time I’m told “Yes, you qualify for a new boiler”, then nothing happens!

I love to have a new boiler, double glazing etc, but as I don’t know any of the companies you list, I’ll go without. I’d rather use a builder mate of mine to do all the work, but as he’s not bothering to register with the green deal, I won’t be making use of it. The reason he’s not registering is he’s practically retired and the cost and effect required will probably be not be worth it to just do my house.

I have looked into this and it is a complete waste of everybody’s time.

We are a small company who are registered Green Deal Installers for renewable technologies. We are also MCS accredited (at great expense to our business). If home owners want to claim the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) they have to have a GDA first, however we have yet to complete any installations under the Green Deal scheme as it seems to be a more expensive option that obtaining alternative finance. Whilst I appreciate the payback via the electricity bill is designed to make the as financially painless as possible, that is really aimed at a market who can’t afford the improvements and probably can’t access finance any other way. Without wishing to stereotype, I doubt people in this situation own their homes and are therefore less inclined to spend valuable cash on these types of improvements. If it was compulsory that landlords and social housing associations make these improvements, then it would benefit everyone. Once again, another half hearted attempt by the government which has probably cost millions to implement, and will give very little return.