Warm Homes Project Terms

To join our project, these terms and conditions must be acceptable to you.

We have selected three installers to partner us for this project. The three installers can cover the four technologies included in our application. The installers have agreed to carry out surveys and give quotes before Sustainable Crediton knows whether it is successful or not. They are taking a risk which is normal in their business that they may not convert any of the sales leads they obtain through this project into sales. The advantage of doing the surveys and quotes in the next 3 to 4 weeks is that if we are successful, we can then give you the final piece of financial information you will need to make your decision about installing renewable heat technology. And if you then decide to proceed there will be three months or so to get the installations and any upgrades to insulation done before the 31st March 2013.

As in our Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project Sustainable Crediton will earn a £20 referral fee for every installation under this scheme. The £20 will be included within your final invoice. This we have learned is a very small fee as some of the other community groups in this scheme are charging their clients 2.5% to 3% of the final installation cost. We feel we don't need to charge this much and it keeps our bid competitive and reduces the cost to you. 

As in our Solar PV Project the final decision to commit your money to an installation through one of the installers is entirely your decision. The order for the installation will be between you and the installer. Any issues or problems you might have will be yours to sort out although as in the PV Project Sustainable Crediton will be here to support you. You can chose not to install under this scheme although if you do so you will only get the standard RHPP grant. You can compare the prices of our installers with installers of your own choice. Some of this technology is complex and you need to be absolutely certain that you have made the correct decision for your own circumstances and that the installers offer is fit for your purpose. 

Please read this disclaimer so that you understand Sustainable Crediton's position:

Please note that Sustainable Crediton or any Sustainable Crediton individual or individuals working to promote the Sustainable Crediton Warm Homes Project cannot accept any liability whatsoever in respect of any loss or damage suffered by a purchaser or any other person in respect of any goods supplied or installed under this Project, including any loss or damage suffered as a result of the quality or lack of fitness for purpose of any goods supplied or installed, or any failure by the supplier to deliver or install the goods or to install them to the purchaser's satisfaction. Sustainable Crediton and members of this group have provided all information in good faith and you are solely responsible for your own project, any survey or preparatory works and no reliance can be placed on this document, any public meeting(s) or any other communication from Sustainable Crediton or the Sustainable Crediton Warm Homes Project. Please make sure you have checked the credentials of anyone visiting your home and take appropriate security precautions.

It is also a requirement of the DECC that 250mm loft insulation ( where it can be fitted) and cavity wall insulation ( if you have cavity walls) is fitted in any home receiving an enhanced grant under this scheme. They have informed us that they reserve the right to audit homes to ensure compliance with this. Their sanction would be, if they found out before the grant was given to you, to reduce the grant until compliance was proven. If after installation and the grant was awarded, a reduction in Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments until compliance was proven.

Sustainable Crediton has not as yet considered how we can assist in the fitting of this insulation where it is required. We will be asking the installers if they can include it in their scope of work at extra cost.

The DECC have also stated that where heat pumps are installed and existing fossil fuel boilers are left in place as a backup heat supply, a meter will be required to be installed to meter the heat output from the heat pump in order to make any future RHI payments to you. The installers will include this in their quotations.

The DECC have also stated that where heat pumps completely replace a fossil fuel boiler/heat source then they reserve the right to install a heat meter, at their cost, to facilitate heat pump trials they are undertaking. The installers are aware of this and will ensure space is available within the installation to accomodate this unlikely occurrence.

The Enhanced RHPP grant should we be successful in our bid for funding will be payable after completion of each individual installation. It will be in the form of a voucher which must be processed in the way set out by the Energy Savings Trust. Certain documentary evidence of completion will need to be submitted along with the voucher. More on this in our next update when we have a decision by DECC.

We have selected three installers to give you a choice. We have not had time to do competitive tendering due to the complexity of the technology and the multiplicity of choices of equipment and the very different requirements you will all have. The installers we have selected are all MCS certified for the products they install as will be the products. They are also all members of the Renewable Energy Association. MCS and REA require certain insurances to be in place to protect consumers upfront deposits and both bodies have dispute resolution processes. The installers are all experienced and have a good reputation. They have all offered discounts on the product lines they install. 

If you are considering installing two technologies, we would not recommend splitting the supply of say Solar Thermal to one installer and heat pump or biomass to a different installer, although you could do so if you wish.

 Updated 20th November 2012