Fighting Fuel Poverty
A unique partnership between Hull City Council, Ideal Stelrad, Jewson Builders Merchant and Classical Gas to combat fuel poverty has reached its first major milestone after the 100th brand new central heating system was installed in a Hull tenant’s home at less than half price.
Part of the council’s Discounted Heating Project, the scheme offers households in Hull without adequate heating the chance to have a full gas central heating system installed at a huge discount. Owner occupiers and private accredited landlords are already taking advantage of the excellent offer to improve the energy rating of their properties to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
Hull tenant Margaret Singleton was the 100th customer to benefit from the scheme. This included the installation of a high efficiency isar combi SEDBUK A rated appliance from Ideal Boilers and nine radiators from Stelrad.
David Bainbridge, Ideal Stelrad’s divisional sales director for the north, said: Installing a brand new central heating system in a mid-terrace three bedroomed property like Mrs Singleton’s would normally cost around £3000. However, under the Discounted Heating Projects scheme, she only had to pay £1142.
Not only does this improve the overall SAP rating of the property, but by installing a high efficiency boiler, it can save tenants up to 30% off their heating and hot water bills compared to older systems. To complement this, it also reduces carbon emissions and therefore helps the environment.
Margaret Singleton was pleased the application process had gone so smoothly but it was the price that had persuaded her. She said: I was amazed by the price of the new system. I have been considering central heating for quite a while but as a pensioner I thought it would be too expensive. The Council has made it affordable for me.
Hull’s Discounted Heating Project is in response to a census in 2001 that revealed some 20,000 households in the city lack central heating. The plans are for about 350 homes a year to benefit from the scheme. The discounts have been made possible by the Council working with local suppliers and installers to agree a bulk discount price as well as being able to offer grant funding to bring the cost even lower.
Councillor Allen Healand, Cabinet member with responsibility for housing issues, said: The Discounted Housing Project is an excellent partnership project that gets to the heart of ensuring that private sector homes in the city meet the Decent Homes Standard and it achieves key objectives in the city’s affordable warmth strategy.
For more information on Ideal’s new range of boilers visit www.idealboilers.com or email enquiries@idealboilers.com.