Regrettably, the money won’t go as far as your article on home improvements suggests (8 January, page 42)

The shelf price of a gas condensing boiler might well be £1,367, but Building Regulations require a same-time substantial upgrade of older pipework and controls. We might be looking at £5,000, all in. The installation work will damage existing kitchen and bathroom fittings, with even minimal making-good adding perhaps another £2,000. Sadly, this does mean that where there is still life in the old boiler, the offered grant of £400 is unlikely to make a boiler change economic for householders.

Ian Macpherson

Postscript

What do you think?
If you have views on anything published in Building, write to: The editor, Building, 3rd floor, Ludgate House, 245 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 9UY. Fax: 020-7560 4004. Email: building@ubm.com. We may edit letters.

Topics