Energy bills warning as 18,000,000 homes need expensive improvements to cut costs
The changes could range from installing double glazing and loft insulation to - at the most expensive end of the options - replacing gas boilers with heat pumps.
Energy bills: Couple discuss the increase in their prices
More than 18 million homes need green improvements to make them more energy efficient and cut bills, according to a new analysis.
The changes could range from installing double glazing and loft insulation to - at the most expensive end of the options - replacing gas boilers with heat pumps.
Research published by Which? last week suggested that some homes might need work running to tens of thousands of pounds.
The figures come from research by Rightmove who say that currently 55 per cent of UK homes would only get a D rating under an Energy Performance Certiiicate (EPC) assessment.
Average energy bills based on a home’s EPC rating can differ by thousands of pounds between the lowest and highest ratings.
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For example, the average energy bill of a three-bedroom house with an EPC rating of F is £4,431 per year, compared with £1,669 for the same sized house with an EPC rating of C
A new Rightmove study among over 14,000 people shows the biggest motivator for someone to make green changes to their home is if it could reduce their energy bills.
An overwhelming number of renters (87 percent) and home-owners (83 percent) think action needs to be taken to help make green improvements
Rightmove is urging the next government to prioritise making green home incentives widely available, to help improve the millions of homes that need it.
Rightmove said: "Green improvements, if suitable for the home, could include window upgrades, roof or floor insulation, installing solar panels or moving from a gas boiler to a heat pump."
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “While it’s a start to see some green support proposed in the party manifestos, there’s a big job to be done to address the widescale issue that at least 18 million UK homes need to be improved.
“Many home-owners and landlords need urgent access to schemes that enable them to make these improvements, which could help with huge savings on energy bills. Each home requires different improvements and the upfront costs are a huge barrier to change.
"Without more help, many home-owners and tenants will continue to live in high-carbon emitting homes with high energy costs.”
Chief executive of Propertymark, Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said: "Propertymark have long supported initiatives and practical measures to help enhance energy efficiency across the UK.
"We would be keen to see any incoming government construct a wide-ranging package of support to assist with upgrades at the first opportunity.
"It’s vital there is a diverse approach of funding, grants, and targeted schemes based on age, condition, and size and that there is robust infrastructure in place to deliver on such ambitions.”
