New support for homeowners to get green grants
01 August 2007
A new system to help homebuyers get green grants worth hundreds of pounds to lower their fuel bills and make their homes greener has been announced today, linked to the introduction of Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates.
Most people are unaware that there are typical grants of £100 to £300 available for cut-price loft and cavity wall insulation. The programme is expanding next year so even more home buyers will be able to benefit from hundreds of pounds off insulation.
Measures recommended in the EPC could save the average consumer £300 a year off their fuel bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
With EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) being introduced today — giving home-buyers a home energy rating, the system will make it easier for consumers to get grants to make the improvements recommended in the certificates.
For the first time, the six major energy companies have agreed that when buyers move into their home and sign up to an energy contract they will get immediate access and information about 'green' grants or offers to consumers. This follows talks with the Government and will help them make their home more environmentally friendly and cut fuel bills.
In addition, the scheme will include a new portal on the Energy Saving Trust’s website where consumers only need to enter their postcode to find details of offers available. Once fully rolled-out it is estimated that the energy certificates would save nearly a million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020.
Consumers who choose to give details from their EPC to suppliers will also receive targeted offers for recommendations in their certificate. This information will not be used for any other purpose and cannot be given to anyone else by the supplier.
The offers are funded by energy suppliers and other partners, with their investment in ‘green grants’ increasing to £2.5 billion over the next three years from April 2008, compared to £1 billion over the last three years.
EPCs are being introduced today as part of Home Information Packs, starting with four bedroom homes and above. The certificates will give consumers energy ratings for homes of A-G, similar to consumer friendly fridge ratings.
A snapshot of leading estate agents shows that most will offer a HIP for around £300 to £350 plus VAT — £200 to £250 of which is already paid for in the current system.
Some estate agents will be offering them for free or as part of their ordinary fees.
The introduction of HIPs is already leading to search prices coming down for consumers, with nearly fifty local authorities having already reduced what they charge consumers for searches, in some cases by more than £100.
Increased competition and transparency as result of HIPs is expected to reduce costs further.
The Government will monitor HIPs closely to ensure the benefits are being passed on to the consumer, with a new consumer panel being set up as part of a wider programme of action to make the home buying and selling process work in the interests of consumers.
The introduction of HIPs in August when the market is normally quieter, with fewer homes for sale, will help to support the smooth transition.
Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said:
“Energy certificates have the potential to cut family fuel bills by hundreds of pounds. But it can still be a real hassle getting the work done. Most people don’t know these grants are available or don’t know how to apply for them. This means it should be much easier for homebuyers to get help to cut their fuel bills and carbon emissions too. It could save hundreds of pounds on insulation and hundreds of pounds on their fuel bills too.”
Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said:
“Our Green Barometer shows that more than half of people want tailored advice on energy saving. Energy Performance Certificates will make it easier for people to identify the simple things they can do in their home to reduce their energy consumption.
More people will be reached now that energy companies are being proactive in providing information to householders on grants available to them.”
Friends of the Earth campaigner Dave Timms said:
“We’re delighted that Energy Performance Certificates are finally up and running. EPCs will give homeowners information which, if they act on it, will help them tackle climate change and save money on home energy bills.”
Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK-BC (Green Building Council), has said:
“It’s really very simple. We will fail to prevent the worst effects of climate change unless we make huge improvements to the energy efficiency of our existing homes. The new Energy Performance Certificates provide an essential tool for doing this. By showing people, for the first time, how their homes rate in terms of energy consumption, and giving them user-friendly advice about the most cost-effective ways of improving their performance, we can all be equipped to do something meaningful to tackle climate change.”
27th July
The Times article
I saw this on the times and thought people might like a read:
Get the lowdown on HIPs
26th July
We're ready!
Ok, so the last few months have seen us playing golf, enjoying the fantastic sunshine (?) and generally lazing about getting fat.
Actually none of that's true, we've been pretty busy on lots of other building related stuff and
I hope to be able to announce a major investment soon.
As far as EPCs go, all has been quiet. We have though spent some time completing the client areas of this site, and I hope that it
functions as well as it was designed too. At this stage, the functionality is going to be limited because the current regulations
don't demand much from the system; but it's secure, reliable and functional (well at least it bloody better be :)).
12th June 2007
Despite my pessimism, it seems the government is rolling ahead again: We now have legislation for HIPS
passed in its revised form and so we'll wait and see.
Our website is coming along, and hopefully soon we'll be able to show you the fruits of our labours.
1st June 2007
The Central Hidea Association met with MP Dr Phyllis Starkey this week to discuss HIPs
Whilst Dr Starkey was positive about HIPs, and offered reassurance on HIPs rollout and EPC requirements,
she was not able to offer concrete re-assurances on any of the issues raised.
Dr Starkey was very clear that in her opinion, our new PM will certainly retain HIPs as he
will be a supporter because he agreed it's structure whilst he was a cabinet member.
24th May 2007
Where now for HIPs?
After the recent debacle in the House of Commons, with HIPs being delayed till August 1st, the
common view is that Gordon Brown will launch a review of HIPs when he takes over
and this will quickly lead to it being scrapped.
Of course, energy certification is a European Directive, and so EPCs will eventually go ahead.
This is a light at the end of the tunnel for DEAs nationwide, many of whom are no facing financial ruin
after investing thousands in DEA training. The government can and should expect a huge backlash from
them and Home Inspectors (those that trained for the Home Condition Reports that was withdrawn last year)
if something doesn't happen soon.
At MKDEA we think that now it's more important than ever to establish a relationship with a DEA.
The HIP providers who promised to blight all our lives by making a fast buck for doing nothing are all
facing a pretty miserable future, and anybody else
who thought they'd be a middle man is also in the same boat.
Now therefore is the time to act: Get an agreement in place with a DEA to supply your EPC needs.
MKDEA remains certain that EPCs will be required widescale in line with European legislation, therfore we'll be
continuing to offer our full range of services from August 1st, or whenever the next revision means it will start.
Unlike many DEAs we have spoken with, MKDEA, and the association of DEAs we are part of, will not be trying to
make profits out of others work. WE remain commited to a fair pay for a fair job, and if you instruct us and we are overloaded,
we'll pass the instruction to a fellow association member who'll receive pretty much all of the fee you pay.
We're a local business at the end of the day, and we support other local businesses. If this is
also your desire, then contact us to arrange a meeting so that we can discuss the services we can provide.
19th May 2007
Will Software glitches stop the HIPs launch?
Software glitches threatened yesterday to scupper the launch of Home Information Packs in June as ministers came under further pressure to delay the proposals.
Although the Tories failed to block the reforms in the Commons, the continuing dispute over the packs led to calls for a 12-month postponement.
The Times has learnt that faulty software has thrown many of the training programmes for energy inspectors into disarray. It emerged yesterday that IT programmes to measure home energy ratings have failed to analyse the correct data.
One estate agent told The Times that a huge number of energy inspectors will have been trained on faulty software. Although two suppliers have had their software approved, two others — Property Tectonics and Northgate — are said to be still waiting, two weeks before the deadline on June 1.
Critics, including the Consumers Association, said yesterday that pilot schemes to test the packs had not been evaluated and that the proposal should be delayed for at least a year.
21st May 2007
Sweeping changes to property planning laws on the way
Homeowners will be able to build kitchen extensions, loft conversions and conservatories without planning permission under sweeping changes to speed up housing developments, reports The Times newspaper.
The proposals, to be announced by Ruth Kelly, the Communities Secretary, on Monday, are part of the biggest shake-up of planning laws for 20 years. They will be welcomed by thousands of would-be home improvers who cannot afford to move due to stamp-duty rises.
But neighbours may find it much more difficult to stop extensions or conversions next door which could overlook their gardens or shut out some of their sunshine.
At present homeowners have to pay up to £1,000, including drawings, to obtain planning permission for minor alterations which can take between eight and sixteen weeks. Permission is needed for solar panels, satellite dishes, wind turbines, loft conversions, porches and extensions to the back or sides of properties.
Planning authorities process 350,000 domestic applications a year, of which more than 90 per cent are granted immediately because there is no damaging impact on a neighbour’s property.
Under the new proposals, to be published in a consultation paper, most home improvement developments will be able to go ahead immediately provided that they comply with height and depth restrictions and meet an “impact test”. As a result councils will be able to focus their resources on more complex applications for the building of new homes.
Those owning detached homes will be able to extend the width of their properties by 50 per cent without planning permission. They will be able to build out at the back by four metres and up to the height of the roof. They will also have much more flexibility to build garages and bike sheds in their gardens.
The planning White Paper will also allow councils to fast-track small domestic and commercial extensions, unless they are proposing a change of use. These account for a further 300,000 small applications.
In addition the paper will propose a new independent commission which will take decision-making on all major planning developments away from local communities. This will cover nuclear power stations, road and rail projects, airports and all big housing developments.
The paper is also expected to make controversial proposals to allow more supermarkets on the edge of towns and change green-belt boundaries to allow more building on the urban fringe. All the proposals, backed by Gordon Brown, are designed to cut through bureaucracy and speed up economic development.
Ministers are concerned about the relentless rise in household planning applications, up 11 per cent since 1995, as homeowners improve rather than move, which is clogging up the planning system.
The changes to household planning alone are expected to reduce the number of domestic applications that have to be processed by 90,000 – 25 per cent of the total workload.
A Whitehall source said: “The local planning system should support people’s aspirations to improve their homes rather than act as a barrier. Many people do not want to move but do want more room.” Planning experts last night welcomed moves to cut through red tape but gave warning that impact assessments could cause difficulties. Gideon Amos, chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, said: “Freeing up household applications must be used to speed up other major and more complex developments, not create problems.”