Other measures the Government are considering include linking improvements to council tax payments, encouraging low interest loans and mortgages. They have outlined plans to require mortgage lenders to attain higher EPC ratings from 2025. There is a real risk that the Government will create a two-tier mortgage market, as well as long-term blight for owners of hard-to adapt properties. We are starting to see a focus from the lenders on rewarding borrowers who make energy saving improvements or buy higher rated properties in the form of lower rates. Some lenders already offer green mortgages on lower carbon homes. Nationwide Building Society offer an additional loan for mortgage borrowers needing money for green improvements and other lenders offer cash incentives to improve the energy rating. Virgin Money have just announced their ‘Greener Mortgages’ available to first and next-time buyers. In partnership with Carbon Neutral Britain, for each Greener Mortgage sold, Virgin Money will fund sustainable energy projects around the world such as reforestation, hydro and solar to offset five tonnes of carbon emissions. This is the equivalent of emissions produced by an average UK home over a 12-month period.
The interrelationship between heat and moisture in buildings is complex. In a well-maintained building that is adequately heated and ventilated, the daily and seasonal cycles of wetting and drying, heating and cooling, balance out. However, the equilibrium may be adversely affected when changes to building fabric, heating or ventilation are made to increase energy efficiency. This can lead to problems of moisture accumulation, overheating and fabric damage. Occupants may also experience ill health due to poor indoor air quality. Thus, when planning energy efficiency improvements, it is important to understand the way a building is performing as an integrated environmental system. In addition, older buildings are part of our evolving cultural heritage, reflecting the nature and history both of the communities that created them and those who followed. They add distinctiveness, meaning, and quality to the places people inhabit, and provide a sense of continuity and identity. When attempting to make such buildings, more energy efficient a special approach is needed to ensure these values are sustained for future generations” The UK over-achieved against its first and second Carbon Budgets and is on track to outperform the third Carbon Budget which ends in 2022. This is due to significant cuts in greenhouse gases across the economy and industry, with the UK bringing emissions down 44% overall between 1990 and 2019, and two-thirds in the power sector. Moreover, the UK continues to break records in renewable electricity generation, which has more than quadrupled since 2010 while low carbon electricity overall now gives us over 50% of our total generation. Prior to enshrining its net zero commitment in law, the UK had a target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050 – through the sixth Carbon Budget, the government is aiming to achieve almost the same level 15 years earlier. It is a huge task to achieve the 2050 commitment and it will cause considerable upheaval to many people, but ultimately the benefit is for us and all mankind. Bob Bickersteth
The real problem is that the ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work for residential property. Many older buildings, especially those protected by listings or in conservation areas were not built in a way that can be easily be adapted. We will have to see what will be proposed for these properties. Historic England has a lot of useful information, see www.historicengland.org.uk and their advice being “striking the right balance between benefit and harm is not easy. The unintended consequences of getting energy efficiency measures wrong (or doing them badly) include: harm to heritage values and significance, harm to human health and building fabric, and failure to achieve the predicted savings or reductions in environmental impact. Getting the balance right (and avoiding unintended consequences) is best done with a holistic approach that uses an understanding of a building, its context, its significance, and all the factors affecting energy use as the starting point for devising an energy- efficiency strategy.
The London Office has acted on behalf of high calibre Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents for over 27 years. Our role is to provide our members with an extra dimension to the services they offer. This enables their clients to receive the best local expertise, supported by national and international marketing. Operating from our central London office in St James’s, we are in a unique position to provide advice to prospective purchasers. Our large prominent window displays, show properties throughout the regions and act as a magnet to passers-by who stop and browse. We have successfully introduced buyers to some of these featured properties. Whether you are looking to buy, considering selling, contemplating renting or simply requiring general property advice we would be delighted to help. We hope you will enjoy the selection of properties from our members on the following pages.
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