The hush-hush consultation on EPCs has resulted in the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors canvassing for opinions.
We reported on this very odd story just before Christmas.
It was a bit like EAT telling its readers that they can only respond to stories within 4.7 seconds. As if we would!
Anyway, buried away under heavily insulated wraps was a letter signed jointly by Lord Marland of Odstock, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and Andrew Stunell, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for CLG.
The letter went out on December 8, without any publicity, announcing a consultation that closed on December 21. By any standards, that is a remarkably quick ‘consultation’ and, at a guess, far too short to allow organisations to rally their memberships, get out the necessary emails, analyse the responses and then make a formal reply.
The story was also odd in that the internet link we gave readers repeatedly died on us.
Apologies, but not our fault. Indeed, a link that worked when we wrote the story failed to show up 12 hours later when our story went out. But why? We’re still baffled.
The letter said: “We are aware of concerns over the quality and consistency of EPCs and DECs; the levels of compliance and enforcement of the requirements; and the poor take-up of their recommendations by consumers.
“We also seek your views on how a rollout of DECs to commercial premises could be best achieved.”
Industry body the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors has now decided to take little notice of the extraordinarily short deadlines.
It is asking its members for their views anyway, and will pass these on to the Government. Which will doubtless take no notice as these will have been received over deadline.
If, as an estate or letting agent, you have opinions on EPCs and/or have your own energy assessor business, you might be interested in completing the survey. It asks some perfectly sensible questions. See the link below.
Meanwhile, this whole story has such a whiff to it (but why – doesn’t everyone love wind farms, energy assessments, supermarket bags that don’t strangle dolphins?) that we suspect we will return to the fray. It's the first attempt we know of to hush up the Green Deal. Weird!
Comments
PeeBee – The question you are referring to was not asked by the DCLG/DECC review. It is from a questionnaire loosely based on the review content circulated by another organisation after the consultation had closed.
I can assure you having drawn up the DCHI response to Lord Marland and Andrew Stunell MP, the questions asked were extremely relevant and very sensible. It was clear to me what they were looking for and why.
There weren’t any giraffes in smoking jackets I could see, but there were some clear indications that government have already accurately identified the key issues and are looking for positive contributions to make sure they get them right.
EAT: Excuse me - but when you say "It asks some perfectly sensible questions...", are you referring to "3. Does the accessiblity of the EPC meet the requirements for prospective owners or tenants to make a reasoned judgement of the properties energy efficiency?
If not ,how can this be improved" Clear as mud - and sensible as a giraffe strutting across the Serengetti wearing a smoking jacket, methinks...
I have read the comments from various commentators with interest and support the views of Tim Baxter. Whilst the importance and significance of EPCs may be belittled for now, it is obvious how the importance will become significant in the next few years, as energy sources change.
The awareness that organisations like DCHI raise can only benefit the future industry.
As a manager of a large agency 500+ units, I can say we have only been asked once in the last 18 months, there is more polutants used producing them than ever saved from entering the atmosphere, waste of time !
Terry Katona: "The main reason for poor quality and inaccurate epc's in my views is because of estate and letting agent's driving down fee's paid to suppliers..."
Poppycock. DEAs have the last say on price - 'No thank you - I cannot do the work for that figure'. It was their weaknesses as businesspeople that allowed their fees to be reduced, which spiralled and affected all suppliers.
Many weren't even covering their travelling costs. What kind of business model allows that?
Totally agree with Chris. They are there for a reason and it has little to do with helping buyers or making estate agents lives easier. Lump it.
Well said Chris Read.
The energy assessment industry needs more organisations on a national scale to follow DCHI's template. Remember, this industry is still very much in its infancy but growing like 'Topsy' with the need to find and implement alternative energy systems and to improve our existing buildings.
Not much point whingeing that the EPC tool is no good when gas and oil become economically prohibitive.
At DCHI we are progressing the development of the industry. We see this as a positive approach and good support to our members.
There's plenty of scope for more DCHIs. It only needs positive effort and application.
Oh come on guys, the EPC's were the outcome of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol in which countries agreed to get global warming under control and combat climate change.
The first requirement was to measure CO2 emissions and the second objective was to put measures in place to lower them.
The UK government decided to introduce EPC's and conveniently put them into the HIPs, but when they dropped the HIPs, they had to keep the EPC's.
The EPC's are not designed to help buyers or sellers at this stage, but in a few years time, watch out! The government have already hinted at raising stamp duty on properties with bad EPC ratings, but have held fire due to the state of the housing market.
My belief is that in the future, council tax will be higher on properties with bad CO2 ratings and slightly lower on properties with good CO2 ratings, though as usual, those paying more will be paying the government much more in terms of rates than those saving, because their homes are efficient. (I.e. An extra £100 per month for bad ratings and a £10 discount if you have a band A rating!)
EPC's are a future tax income stream for the government hidden behind saving the planet and it has nothing to do with helping buyers to better understand what they are buying! Money makes the world go round remember.
@ Ray Evans, you are obviously not familiar with the Warmfront scheme. Home insulation grants for everyone who has not already got it.
To agree with Ace, if I were buying a car I would want to know if it was a gas guzzler, totally relevant.
Ace of Spades.
Agents should promote an EPC for a property that you want to sell or rent? To justify them most assessors recommend spending big money to raise the rating by a smidge!
EPCs could be beneficial for the majority of people buying and renting.
If you are looking at a £650pcm 2 bed with a poor energy rating, you might be better of renting a more expensive, yet more energy efficient prop.
Really good for FTB also, we need to do what we can to help them.
Yes, the quality of EPCs has been driven down, but that's because many letting and estate agents have bullied DEAs into working for stupid prices, so what do you expect? You pay peanuts...
Yes, if you are looking at a nice £500k prop in the country, you won't even know what an EPC is.
But, for a good chunk of the buying market, who we must serve, an EPC is beneficial.
promote it and let your clients know what its about, if they don't already.
I'd even expect the business mind of a 13 year old boy on a paper round to be able to convert a good EPC rating into a USP.
With regards to the “Hush Hush” aspect of the consultation, members of DCHI down here in the West Country have had our views represented from the very beginning and have been able to make a significant contribution at every stage. The consultation may now be closed but it was publicised to relevant stakeholders including accreditation bodies and organisations like DCHI that represent the combined interests of Energy Assessors. Ian Sturt, DCHI’s representative in the review process likened the idea of “Publicising it to everyone” to “inviting anyone who drives a car to suggest to car manufacturers how to re-design a component in the engine”.
Whilst DCHI acknowledge that deadlines were tight they feel that the outcome was a positive one in that constructive actions are being taken swiftly. DCHI’s involvement with DCLG and other industry bodies meant that they knew that the consultation was coming, canvassed their member’s views when it did, and easily produced a highly detailed response within the required time frame. Ian went onto comment that “We can only support our membership by engaging with government and it is our job to keep up, not theirs to wait for us.”
Individual energy assessors will always struggle to keep themselves informed and have a voice in an industry defined by European legislation, national government, special interest groups and lobbyists. If we are to have a voice it could be that we need more organisations like DCHI to grow and represent real grass-roots opinions from the people on the ground.
The main reason for poor quality and inaccurate epc's in my views is because of estate and letting agent's driving down fee's paid to suppliers, and agents should never have been allowed to provide epc's in-house, a conflict of interest if ever there was one.
You're right Ray. If a purchasers find their dream home, a below par EPC graph isn't going to make one jot of difference. I did respond to the EPC consultation, but have received no acknowledgement or reply. Charming.
EPC's - another waste of time and money foisted on us by the EU.
Most prospective purchasers and purchasers ignore them - it's only the actual property and price that counts.