'Energy efficiency poor in UK's homes'

26 September 2007

The majority of the UK's houses perform poorly on energy efficiency, according to a market expert.

Homeowners attempting to sell a property with three or more bedrooms now have to commission a home information pack (Hip) when they put it on the market.

A key part of the pack is the energy performance certificate (EPC) which gives the property a ranking for energy efficiency on an A to G scale, together with details of measures that could be taken to improve the situation.

The best performing properties assessed since the EPCs were introduced in August have gained only a C rating, while the majority of houses are at the bottom end of the scale, according to a spokesman for Hip provider The Partnership.

Whether or not the energy rating impacts on the value of a property is not yet clear, but estate agents are not happy about properties receiving low ratings, he continued.

However, there are some simple steps homeowners can take to improve energy efficiency.

The spokesman added: "The most obvious thing is looking at the insulation, whether it's in the windows, double glazing or in the walls. You can also look at insulation in the roof, which is the most cost-effective way of doing it."