Whether you are planning on selling your home soon, or you have no intention of selling up and moving on, it is helpful to think about the energy efficiency of your home. If you plan on selling, you need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place.
At Fraser Reeves, we think there is a lot to be said for making subtle changes. You can enjoy a comfier time at home, but you also know that you can add value to your home. This is something all vendors should have in the back of your mind.
Make your house more appealing to likely buyers
Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has spoken about the importance of EPC ratings on property prices. The organisation has examined research carried out by Nationwide and said that properties holding an A or B rating carry a value that is around 5.2% greater than properties with an F or G rating.
With PEPE stating the average value of property stands at £280,000; this could see an additional £14,500 added to the house price.
Andrew Parkin, PEPA Chairman, says: “With property and energy prices continuing to rise and with increased global focus on energy efficiency and carbon emission reductions, the value of improving energy efficiency in properties is only likely to increase. It makes sense for homeowners to invest in an EPC now to find out what opportunities there may be to enhance the value of their property and reduce energy bills without waiting for the time when they may wish to sell.”
You can connect with likely buyers by making small improvements
Andrew Harvey, senior economist at Nationwide, said: “Decarbonising and adapting the UK’s housing stock is critical if the UK is to meet its 2050 emissions targets, especially given that the housing stock accounts for around 15% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. With this in mind, we used our house price data to explore the extent to which owner occupiers pay a premium or discount for a home due to its energy performance rating. To do this, we included energy efficiency ratings from [EPCs] alongside the usual property characteristics data we use in our House Price Index.”
Andrew Harvey continued by saying; “This allowed us to control for other factors that can influence the value of a house or flat and isolate the impact of energy efficiency ratings alone. Government analysis based on the latest English Housing Survey suggests that if all eligible energy improvement measures defined in the EPC methodology were to be installed in the current stock of dwellings, 98% would be rated A to C, with just 2% in band D or lower. Installing all the recommended energy improvement measures in homes currently rated F or G would result in an average saving of around £1,780 per year.”
Andrew Harvey concluded by saying; “However, the installation cost for such measures is also high at an estimated £25,800, meaning a payback period of around 14 years. The government’s current aspiration is to upgrade as many homes as possible to band C by 2035. The average cost to improve a property to an energy efficiency of band C is c£8,100, though the cost is considerably higher for properties rated F or G. However, the pace of energy efficiency improvements is relatively slow given the scale of the challenge. For example, insulation installation is well below the 2012 peak, the last year of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and Community Energy Savings Programme. This suggests a need for further incentives to help decarbonise homes.”
As local agents in Newton-le-Willows, we are keen to support vendors, buyers and landlords in the area as best we can. We offer an extensive range of services, aimed at helping you make your next move with confidence.
If you would like to arrange a property valuation, or discuss your property options, please call Fraser Reeves on 01925 222555.
