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Small percentage of people consider energy ratings
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
Concerning findings indicate that very few people think about the energy efficiency rating of a property when assessing whether to buy or rent. Instead, features such a location, parking and local amenities are more of a concern.
Efficient benefits
A study from construction and regeneration company Keepmoat has shown that many people simply neglect the energy efficiency rating of a home. This is despite the fact that a poor rating can cost thousands of pounds in wasted energy.
It is a legal requirement for all properties to have an Energy Property Certificate, which must be provided when a home is bought, sold or rented. Ratings can range between A and G, with upcoming legislation soon to affect properties on the low end of the performance scale.
Worrying results
Findings from the Keepmoat report show that the most important features considered when moving house was being close to local amenities and transport links, which applied to 35.9% of those questioned. 30% said that good parking was their upmost concern, while 26% were more worried about green space. Only 10% considered the energy efficiency of a property as an important feature when moving into a new home.[1]
Small percentage of people consider energy ratings
Overall results suggested that knowledge of the importance of energy efficiency was low across all regions. Nottingham boasted the highest percentage of respondents that considered a high rating as a priority with 16%. Inhabitants of Edinburgh were proved unlikely to see energy efficiency as a concern, with just 4% of people saying that this was the case.[2]
Nigel Banks, sustainability director at Keepmoat, stated that, ‘for many households, energy bills are one of the biggest expenses and understanding much energy a new house or flat will use, as well as what they can do to reduce these bills, can go a long way to reducing their outgoings.’[3]
‘However, the results of our survey clearly show many people are not prioritising the energy efficiency rating of a property when moving home and this could well be a decision they regret when they get their first winter energy bills,’ he continued. Banks also feels that, ‘people should try and consider the total cost of living in home, including mortgage repayments or rents as well as bills.’[4]
[1] http://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/uk-home-buyers-energy-2015060310581.html
