Older Homes

The issue of older homes that more than 90% of us live in is a moot point. The Government has targeted the new homes sector to adhere to its most stringent regulations (i.e. the Code), but new homes only account for less than one per cent annually of the housing stock in the UK. How so? There are 24.9 million dwellings in the UK, according to the ONS, and in 2007 around 180,000 new homes were built.

In 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown staked his political reputation on stating that three million new homes are to be built by 2020 – that’s 240,000 per year from mid-2007. Even if the target is achieved, and many doubt it possible, it will only represent 1% per year of the UK’s housing stock being built to high environmental standards.

Energy Saving Measures

Organisations such as the Master Builders Federation and eco homes and sustainable development portal www.whatgreenhome.com are calling for the Government to encourage energy saving measures in existing dwellings. This is highly important as much of the existing housing stock in Britain is largely energy inefficient, particularly in relation to new homes. A spokesman for whatgreenhome.com said: “We are calling for the removal of VAT (or at the very least a reduction to 5%) on the installation of energy-efficient home improvements; the reduction in council tax for properties with a high energy-efficiency rating; and the introduction of feed-in tariffs for micro-generation schemes, such as, electricity generated from photovoltaic cells that is sold back to the power companies.”

To date the portal reports that official reaction to its campaign has been “unforthcoming”, which, it feels, underlines that much more needs to be done in the existing homes sector to encourage us all to act.