In the past year 251,000 Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were lodged for new build homes – an increase of 16%.
These new figures, released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, mean that 85% of new homes in England and Wales are now in the highest energy efficiency bands of A or B.
Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, says:
“This government acted decisively to keep the housing market open and operating safely during the pandemic. We are now seeing the benefit as these latest figures indicate an increase in supply of green homes.
Not only do we want to build back better, we want to make sure homes across the nation are fit for the future, better for the environment and more affordable for home-owners to heat. Our environmental targets will be fair and affordable to everyone.”
Are new builds more environmentally friendly than older properties?
While 85% of new homes are now in EPC bands A or B, just 3% of existing properties are.
So, for eco-conscious consumers looking for a new home, buying a new build may be the obvious choice. Modern building standards and EPC requirements mean they tend to be much more energy efficient than older properties (not to mention, energy bills tend to be much lower).
The government is also planning to introduce a new Future Homes Standard to ensure home carbon emissions in future new builds are even lower.
However, buying a new build isn’t an option for everyone. For example, if you want to buy in a city centre, new build estates may be harder to come by. Or if you do not qualify for Help to Buy or another government scheme, you may find that older properties are more affordable.
But while finding an older energy efficient property is harder, many older homes have been upgraded over the years to lower carbon emissions and save on energy bills.
It is easy to check the energy efficiency of any home before you buy it – it is a legal requirement that the seller provides an EPC and they are often made available as part of the online listing for the property (if it isn’t, just ask the estate agent).
Read our top tips for buying an eco-friendly home here.
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a report that tells you how energy efficient a property is. It reviews things like how well insulated the property is and its environmental impact.
The EPC provides a rating of between A and G, A being reserved for the most energy efficient properties and G for the least energy efficient.
The EPC also shows the potential rating. This is the rating the property could achieve if certain recommendations were implemented. For example, the EPC might recommend getting double glazing, improving insulation or changing lightbulbs to energy efficient ones.
Do you need an EPC?
Most properties need an EPC when they’re sold or rented out. There are only a few situations where a property does not need an EPC, for example, where it is a listed building, or it is going to be demolished.
Buy to let landlords are not allowed to rent out a property with an EPC rating lower than E. A property also needs an updated EPC every 10 years, so if you want to sell your property, you should check whether you need to get a new one.
The Future Homes Standard
While huge strides are being made in terms of the energy efficiency of homes, heating and powering buildings still accounts for 40% of the UK total energy usage. In line with the government’s net zero by 2050 goal, the government has been conducting a two-stage consultation called the Future Homes Standard and the Future Buildings Standard with the aim of changing the Building Regulations from 2021 onwards.
If proposed changes are implemented, from 2025, homes should produce 75% less carbon emissions than homes built under current standards.
Interim changes to Part L of the Building Regulations on the conservation of fuel and power in new and existing buildings are expected to come into force from 2022.
Do you need advice about buying or selling your home?
At Bird & Co, we are specialist firm of Law Society accredited conveyancing solicitors who help people across the UK buy and sell their homes.
Whether you’re buying or selling a new build or an existing property, we can handle all the legal aspects of your transaction on your behalf, making the process as simple, straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Get a conveyancing quote online to see how much your transaction is likely to cost, then a member of our conveyancing team will be in touch shortly.
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