Warm Front advice

A question about : Warm Front advice

My Mum has been told she is eligible for a Warm Front grant. The assessor told her that she could have 5 radiators and a gas combi boiler in her 3 bed semi. She currently has just 3 storage heaters. She asked if she could pay the extra to have radiators put in the other 2 bedrooms and the assessor said yes. He told her that she could also pay extra to have the pipes put behind the skirting boards and the radiators placed in more convenient positions. She was happy with this. However, the 'surveyor' came to see her at very short notice (10mins) and my brother could not get there to be with her. The surveyor told her that there was no longer the option to have extra radiators at extra cost. He told her that the pipes to her lounge would have to come from upstairs and run down the wall in conduit. She wasn't happy, but he implied that they had to help as many people as possible and she should be grateful for what she was getting. It sounds as if he was very abrupt, and Mum was a bit intimidated. He says all the work will be done in one day and she would have to get any changes done herself afterwards. Has anyone had any experience of the scheme or 'paying extra' for extra work? We would be very grateful for any advice.

Best answers:

• [quote=jellymid;5665841] He told her that the pipes to her lounge would have to come from upstairs and run down the wall in conduit. She wasn't happy, but he implied that they had to help as many people as possible and she should be grateful for what she was getting. It sounds as if he was very abrupt, and Mum was a bit intimidated. quote]
  They tried this with my elderly Mum and Dad a couple of years ago - the chap said they'd run the pipes close to the window so's the curtains would hide them . Fortunately my Mum isn't easily intimidated and told them to get stuffed. They eventually put them under the floorboards as any normal person would expect.
  Give the firm a ring and tell them no way are you having pipes running down the walls - what on earth would it look like??? (Steptoe's house springs to mind).
  Mum and Dad did pay for a couple of extra radiators and it was all done in a day but make sure someone strong-minded is there to see they get what they want.
• Before getting too excited about this, what kind of floors does the OP's mum have? When we installed CH in our second house, we had solid concrete floors downstairs. We COULD have had the pipes put in these, but it was an awful lot less work to run them down from upstairs. Once painted, and in the corners, I don't think it looked that bad!
• Thanks for your replies. My Mum does have concrete floors downstairs but I understand that the inital assessor from warm front advised her that it would be possible to hide them behind the skirting board in this case. After a bit of investigation it seems that the surveyor who visited her yesterday actually works for the independent fitters that would be doing the job not for Warm Front. He hadn't made this clear. Alarm bells were going off, so I rang Warm Front direct. They were very helpful and have withdrawn their request for this company to deal with Mum's grant. She was very worried as she had signed about 5 forms, but I was reassured that there would be no problems. She will now be allocated another firm - may mean another wait, but probably worth it in the long run. Warm Front said that they will make sure the next company will be happy to do the extra work. Thanks for your advice. I shall make sure that she has someone with her next time.
• hi just like to say a few things about warm front if your lucky to get the grant and the installer is a company called (iguana heating) be careful you get what you are entitled to inguana will fit boilers for the full cost of your grant but will not give any radiators even when your radiators might be leaky and very old. this is because warm front own iguana heating. other installers will fit boiler and five radiators for the cost of the same grant. I live in the cleveland area and this is happening all the time with Iguana heating.
• two of my friends qualified for the grant Ј2700 they installer said the grant covers boiler and five radiators. and thats what they got. by the way they already had radiators in the property one of them had to pay Ј25 extra but that was all
• Hi,
  we were told that we qualified for a 5 radiators and boiler and would get grant of 4k. The guy came out and there were no problems at all. We got a letter saying that cost of work was 6k+ and we would have to pay 2k difference. Now warm front and the installers are blaming each other and we're no further forward. Lengthy conversations where neither party could satisfy points i made ( and realised it) - is the whole thing a huge con? we were advised to ask cab if we could get financial help anywhere! Does it really cost 6k?
  help gratefully received as electric bill is huge in winter (no central heating in at all)
  thanks
• Thanks everyone. My Mum has had a surveyor visit this week from another company. He was much better, though I was glad that my brother and I were there to deal with him. They are happy to put 3 extra radiators in, although they charge a flat rate of Ј 240 per radiator fitted. Although this sounds a lot, a couple of them are a long way from the boiler and are going to take a while to fit. My only concern now is that they want to fit an IDEAL ISAR 24 boiler, which doesn't seem to get very good reviews. I'm currently trying to choose a different boiler, to try to get them to quote for an 'upgrade'. They did however seem reluctant to go down this route. With the Ј2700 grant my Mum will get a full gas central heating system for Ј750 which doesn't seem too bad at all, especially considering she doesn't even have a gas supply to her has currently! Fingers crossed all goes well now. Thanks again, Al
• Thanks for the reply, Margaret. We have a back boiler which heats water behind the coal fire. We were given a choice of new boiler or run radiators off the back boiler. We didn't want to lose the back boiler because of power cuts in winter. We've been without power for 2 weeks at a time (not in the last four years, granted). So we were quoted for radiators and linking everything up -and assured that the work would be completed within the grant awarded. It was a bit of a shock to discover that they wanted the 2k+ and neither side would break down the cost for us - just labour £2k and parts 2k. :confused: . I am going to ring a local guy (who actually grew up in our house) for advice.
  We thought that the scheme sounded great and had told widowed M-i-L about it - however the unhelpful attitude of both Warm Front and their 'contractor' has put us off - we only wanted to know what their quote covered but it's all (quote) 'commercially sensitive' information. We have to pay 2k and not ask questions... ? (quote) 'erm, yes'...
  I'm glad that it all went well for you Margaret - maybe it's just a 'Personnel' problem we're having,lol.
  Regards
• Glad you've sorted things out, jellymid! I apologise if I've 'hijacked' your thread - not quite sure what the etiquette is. Try to keep subjects together or start your own thread??
  Hope your mother has a Warm Winter!
• Thanks Call that Music. Your quote seems hugely excessive by comparison - My Mum will be getting a boiler, 8 radiators and a gas connection for an excess of Ј750. I have to agree and say that the whole system lacks transparency. Our second contractor was saying that they have put in 19 systems this week and they always use the same boilers. I suspect that they maybe work to such a high level of 'routine' that yours may be too out of the ordinary, hence the high quote. Perhaps it is just too much trouble for them.
  You could do as I did and ask Warmfront to request another contractor to quote. You have to start the whole process again, but our second contractor was more helpful than the first, so it was well worth it. Given the amount of money, it would seem to be worth a try. Regarding Warmfront, I have had mixed experience. Two customer advisors were obviously bored and quick to give advice which on further questioning turned out to be untrue. However two others were very helpful and understanding, going to a lot of trouble. As for hijacking - no problems. If you are getting the help you need, fine. If not, try starting another thread.
  Magaret Clare - Thanks for your feedback on the ISAR - that does reassure me, and we can look at getting Mum's taps sorted out beforehand.
• Yes, jelly, I think I'll try asking for another quote and also give a local guy a ring so that, as Margaret says, I'll know that I've covered everything. Thanks to you both
• Good luck call that music - let us know how you get on!
• Hello Margaret, I do believe that if there are special circumstances for a warmfront client not being able to comply with having condensing boiler another type can be fitted. We had or old one for over 30 years and it was housed inside a cupboard in the kitchen meaning that it was not obtrusive unlike the new one.
  Unfortunately, you have touched a nerve with your reference to hot water for the shower. Our shower is old too. It is electric and it works but the water on the lowest setting is too hot for me, and, the handwashbasin in the same downstairs bathroom delivers warm water after a wait of about 15 minutes. A district nurse who used to visit me said "if I phone when I'm at the end of the Close you can then turn on the tap on ready for me"
  These problems were the same prior to Warmfront.
  Got to find a way to get them sorted.
• I had previously had loft insulation and draft proofing through warm front and was delighted when they rang and asked if I'd like a new gas boiler. Ours was on the way out. They called to check it, agreed it needed replacing and within about 2 months the workmen called, fitted it in two days (was going to be one). Electrician called the third day and the job was finished. I too was told I could have an extra radiator but then told no that wasn't the case. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose. I'm just glad we've now got a boiler that doesn't rattle and clang and we have a warmer house than we've every had. All at no cost to ourselves.
• I had a new condensing boiler fitted under the warmfront scheme four months ago. Great. Really hot water for the first time in years. Fab latest digital thermostat fitted in lounge.
  Only problem was that man who fitted boiler left without finishing the pipework outside. I didn't even realise until the electrician arrived and told me. I have been phoning Iguana regularly, also had the Warmfront inspector here to inspect the work and he said he would chase them up. That was two months ago. Apparantly the pipe should go into the ground and it is just sticking out of the wall. I don't know what that means, whether it would cause any problems with my system or whether it is a detriment to the neighbours or just looks unsightly.
  I sometimes get the fan of the boiler going off for a few minutes when the heating isn't even on - in the middle of the night. Not sure why.:rolleyes:
• Hi Sara
  I have just come home from my Mum's as she has now had her central heating system fitted. I think she first applied in August, so not too bad a wait, and quite a lot of that time was waiting for the gas supply to be installed. I wouldn't say that it has been staightforward and sometimes we have regretted starting the whole business, but now, at last, she has a warm home. The whole system seems worryingly open to abuse and the warmfront staff are erratic to say the least. I am glad that we have stayed the course and delighted that she will be warm this winter, but there was so much that could have been done better. It feels like it's been a series of battles - and frankly my Mum's health has suffered as a result of it. As long as you remember that it will be worth it in the end - and are prepared to ring warmfront repeatedly until you get someone who knows what they are talking about (they do exist!) - you will get a warm home. That is what it is all about, good luck!
  Al
• Hello everybody
  Just nipped into this forum to see if I could learn anything new, and I think I have!
  This Warm Front is it Government assisted , is it national, or just regional because I have never heard of it.
  Do they fit new boilers in Council owned houses
  Who do I contact to get an assessment?
  I have loft insulation and cavity wall but my boiler is inefficient and ancient and the Council wont put a new modern system in.