A chaotic and massively over-supplied Domestic Energy Assessor market has been revealed following a Freedom of Information request.
The reply, from the Department of Communities and Local Government, shows huge numbers of DEAs at over 10,000 – but also reveals that one in eight is currently suspended.
Despite the glut of DEAs, numbers are due to climb because of the Green Deal.
Promises of jobs plus DEA training courses are still to be found in plenty on the internet.
Prices of EPCs are as little as £25, and in September the RICS quietly withdrew from the market, saying it could not offer a cost-effective service.
The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) has called on the Government to carry out an urgent investigation into what it describes as the ‘excessively high’ numbers of accredited and suspended DEAs in the market place.
Suspensions can occur because of a breach of the regulations such as failure to update a Continuing Professional Development record, or failing an EPC audit due to a minor technical oversight.
Alan Milstein, chairman of the RPSA, said: “We knew that the market was in disarray, but we were not aware just how chaotic the situation had got.
“On the one hand we have a massive and uncontrolled over-supply of assessors, forcing prices down to unsustainable and uneconomic levels, and dragging quality with it.
“And on the other hand we have an auditing process so draconian and haphazard that perfectly competent assessors are being prevented from working due to some minor infringement of the over-zealous regulations.
“This is a situation that must not be allowed to continue and we call on Government to carry out an urgent review into the whole industry.
“We need proper regulation of the training for assessors, significantly higher standards across the board, and an auditing process designed to assess DEAs in a real-world working environment, not condemning individuals on nothing more than a piece of paper and a few photographs.”
Milstein went on: “The Government needs to raise the profile of EPCs and ensure that the quality of the product is taken very seriously.
“Is it any wonder that the general public have so little respect for, and faith in, EPCs?
“The regulations have created an environment where the lowest possible price is the key motivation to buy, and where assessors are feeling marginalised and de-motivated.
“With the assessment of energy efficiency climbing higher up the political agenda, it is essential that consumers can have confidence in the advice and information they are being given.”
Mike Crompton, chairman of trade body the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors, said: “There are certainly more DEAs than the market can currently stand. And it is a problem that because DEAs don’t like sitting around doing nothing, they agree to do work for peanuts.”
Green Deal inspectors must first pass DEA exams before taking further qualifications. Currently, there are 250 qualified Green Deal inspectors in England and Wales plus a further 120 in Scotland, with predictions of 750 in the New Year.
Crompton also said that IDEA, along with two other trade bodies, had written to all the DEA accreditation schemes expressing concern over audit failures and threats of suspension. He said that some failures were over DEAs not taking photos of every single low energy light bulb in a property.
Comments
Trevor- about the same overs supply of idiots....
Many vendors who purchase EPC's on line from a panel, actually pay much more that £25.00.
It is the assessor 'employed' by the panel that receives only £25.00 - £30.00. The difference goes to the panel for doing what you could do yourself, contact a local assessor directly, preferably one that is a member of IDEA.
Should be a lot more work for dea's once the alternative passive agent market opens up next year.
I actually feel really sorry for DEAs - and not just because every time I see it I think about Colombian Drug Lords ;-)
It started off looking like a great career, then the volume of transactions tanked, so there were twice as many inspectors as required.
Law of supply & demand takes hold.
Prices paid down to £25.
Which, considering that it costs to have your credentials, insurance, drive to the property, the time taken at the property, drive back, collate data, upload it and then pay the Landmark fee, then send it to the customer means that most are earning considerably under minimum wage.
And most of the time they are also self employed.
What a horrid position to find yourself in.
Plenty of Green Deal Providers advertising like crazy to recruit GDAs. If anything there is a shortfall.
When the Green Deal gets into swing next year there won't be many willing to do EPCs for cheap fees with richer pickings available elsewhere.
What over supply? I do not have a worn path to my door from out of work assessors wanting to do my EPC's for £25. I have to wait a few days for my man to call and inspect and if there are too many who are no longer working then look at the jobless list and see what type of people are unemployed. Who wants more assessors? The public ignore the documents the market is down massive amounts so perhaps there were too may trained on the promise they would get rich quick.
How does one check that ones recommended DEA is not 'suspended'?.
What about the massive over-supply of Estate Agents?
This is a classic example of EU waste.
EPCs designed to help "the environment" have directly the opposite effect. How much fuel, paper, ink, chemicals, energy, electricity, IT equipment is wasted producing this crap?
I wonder just how many vendors are paying as little as £25 for their EPC.