Government says No to its Own Energy Efficiency Plans

A survey by Primemove.com showed that over 82% of buyers would disregard an energy efficiency rating attached to a property being offered for sale. The survey also found that 67% of buyers felt that they would make energy improvements to a property only if it would save them money, regardless of the energy rating.

Henry Pryor of Primemove.com commented: “The Government’s insistence that home owners provide Energy Efficiency Reports before a property is marketed is both unnecessary and a waste of energy itself.

“If they really think a buyer is going to amend his or her offer on a £200,000 home because it has a D rating rather than a C rating then they have completely misunderstood the current market where in some parts of the country there are five or six bidders for a property”.
Chairman of the Better Regulation Commission, Rik Haythornthwaite, stated:
“Here we have an example of proposals that are not part of a clear strategic framework and impose additional administration burdens with inadequate justification. These regulatory proposals, though aimed at reducing carbon emissions, fall short of our expectations for good regulation and, in particular, fail our recently recommended tests for better climate change policy.
“The Government would be well advised to stop and listen. RICS, Council of Mortgage Lenders, and NAEA have all spoken out against the proposed implementation of HIPs, and have all advised alternatives that would perhaps achieve the objectives better. What is proposed would appear to be of little help to the property buying public and is clearly regarded as unworkable by the Government’s own advisers”.