ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPCs)
All domestic and commercial buildings in the UK available to buy or rent must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If you own a home, getting an energy performance survey done could help you identify ways to save money on your energy bills and improve the comfort of your home. WHAT ARE EPCs? Much like the multi-coloured sticker on new appliances, EPCs tell you how energy efficient a building is and give it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient). EPC
7 TOP TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOME WARMER THIS WINTER
FOUR OUT OF TEN OF US ARE AVOIDING SWITCHING ON THE HEATING DURING COLDER SPELLS DUE TO FEARS ABOUT ENERGY BILLS A THIRD ARE REPORTING THEY CAN’T MAKE THEIR HOME AS WARM AS THEY’D LIKE WINTER WOOLLIES ARE FILLING THE COMFORT GAPS WHERE HEATING SYSTEMS AREN’T DELIVERING THE GOODS WARMING OPTIONS BEING IGNORED It’s the time of year when the joys of cold weather are celebrated – but on the flip side, new Energy Saving Trust research is telling quite a different tale. At the same
Are you an energy-efficient landlord?
Are you an energy-efficient landlord?
UK CO2 AND ENERGY COSTS ‘SET TO RISE’
Household energy bills and carbon emissions will rise unless ministers devise new policies to save power, a report says. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) confirms that bills and emissions have been forced down since 2008 by EU energy efficiency rules. Appliances like fridges, freezers and boilers are now designed to use less energy for the same work. Ministers say they will make new energy efficiency policy in the Autumn. But the government’s critics point out that its C
UK HOUSE PRICES: STAMP DUTY CHANGES SHOULD BE LINKED TO CARBON EMISSIONS
A leading think tank has called for homebuyers who choose properties that perform poorly on energy efficiency to pay more stamp duty. Under the proposal by London-based Policy Exchange, a £220,000 house with a poor energy efficiency rating would see stamp duty rise 30 per cent from £1,900 to £2,470. However, those buying an energy efficient home of the same value would enjoy a £500 reduction in stamp duty. Policy Exchange argues the move will push consumer interest towards en
LANDLORDS RISK £5,000 FINES UNDER NEW ENERGY RULES
From April 2018, rental properties must meet new minimum EPC ratings More than 300,000 landlords could be slapped with fines of up to £5,000 if they don’t improve the energy efficiency of their rental homes, under new rules coming into force next year. Earlier this week, the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy confirmed that planned changes to energy standards in the rental sector will be rolled out next April. The new scheme will require rental properties
