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Written by rosalind renshaw

EPCs will be reformed and households will be given a month’s holiday from council tax return for signing up to the Green Deal.

The latter is part of an incentive trial, which is being run with Homebase, which also offers vouchers for Homebase and Argos.

Other offers being trialled offer energy efficiency products at a discount if households club together to buy them, or community rewards.

The trials are launched in a new report from the Cabinet Office’s ‘behavioural insights team’, which also says how it will ‘refresh’ EPCs.

The report says it needs to reform EPCs because currently only 18% of house buyers report that they took any notice of them in deciding on their purchase, while only 17% act on the recommendations.

From next April, EPCs will have a different front page, which will signpost the Green Deal by showing which measures are available for grant-aid under the scheme,  and detail cost savings over three years, and not just environmental consequences.

It will show the current costs of lighting, heating and hot water, and the potential costs of all three, giving the total cost-saving over three years.

In addition, the front page will list the top three recommendations, with the suggestion that payback times may also be included.  

Further research on EPCs will be conducted by the behavioural insights team and Homebase.

Other ideas include setting up a network of Green Deal champions, and forthcoming work with Which? to examine what advice householders find most useful.

You can see the new-look EPCs in the report:

https://tinyurl.com/6yymob8

The 'refresh' of EPCs is not the only change mooted. CLG also wants estate agents and letting agents put an EPC report on all their marketing particulars, possibly from as early as this October, meaning extra costs of print and paper.  Have you taken part in the all-important SPLINTA survey yet? It's essential that if you have views, you make them plain now. Please refer back to previous story SPLINTA gets ready to fire up new campaign on EPCs

Comments

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    Paul - It's basic marketing isn't it. If you have USP, you showcase it. A good EPC rating is going to offer cheaper running costs. The majority of people are not bothered by running costs.

    But, there is a market (first time buyers and small property tennants) whom this does appeal too. No, they are not necessarily hanging on by a thread financially, but if they could save £60 per month in running costs if they opt for property B, then it is attractive. Especially when property A is likely to be on with another agent.

    "Then the house the punter likes with a poor EPC you will keep your mouth shut will you? I would if its going to make a sale the EPC is not relevant. "

    Well, yes. You only need to highlight a good EPC for properties that are aimed at your most cost-aware market. But if there is a USP, in any shape or form, use it.

    Look at Subway, they highlight the fact that their sandwiches are low fat and a healthy fast food option.

    Do you see McDonalds shouting from the rooftops that a large big tasty meal has 1500 calories? No, they focus on the taste and value for money.

    You could find a 'negative' in every prodcut and service if you looked closely enough.

    Like I have tried to state all the way through, A LOT of people could not give a monkeys about an EPC. But there is a significant market that will listen, if it is presented correctly...I still think you are missing a trick.

    You shout from the rooftops if a property has a driveway for 4 cars. If another doesn't have a driveway at all, you don't even go there. It's the same approach.

    • 14 July 2011 09:46 AM
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    Paul: "If the running cost is an important part of the deal and will make or break then the buyer just can not afford the property."

    Sorry - but if your theoretical buyer is THIS close to the wire to being able or unable to afford buying - DON'T DO IT!

    • 13 July 2011 14:20 PM
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    AofS

    Then the house the punter likes with a poor EPC you will keep your mouth shut will you? I would if its going to make a sale the EPC is not relevant.

    If on the other hand you are fighting to close a deal is an EPC valid but more important lasting ammunition? All sales are thought by the buyer at the outset to be logical. Then after the deal is done and the solicitors involved its all emontional and logic goes out the window.

    If the running cost is an important part of the deal and will make or break then the buyer just can not afford the property.

    I do not know off hand my electricity bills but say they are £2000 a year an 18% increase is £7 a week. A small amount. So how much is in your wallet when you go out for a drink with the lads or the other half?

    • 13 July 2011 13:42 PM
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    @Richard - I agree with you view.

    To repeat a post of mine from another Headline. I would add that the whole 'green' thing (whatever it really is) is being manipulated by 'Vested Interests' and 'Marketing Types' and has become a nonsense.

    • 13 July 2011 12:54 PM
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    Rents are rising, fewer folk buying, so pressure will increase on a reduced available rental stock.

    As rental properties become even more scarce, the EPC becomes more and more irrelevant but can see why someone how does not know the market properly would be fooled by the propaganda surrounding them so don’t think you are daft ACE.

    Simple supply and demand. No one will not buy or rent if the property is their dream because a rating designed for a fridge is low.

    • 13 July 2011 10:54 AM
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    I'm really undecided on EPCs.

    Regardless, if you are letting a small flat/house or selling a property targeted at FTBs, then a good EPC rating is a USP, that is foolish not to use.

    Granted, if you were a buying a 5 bed country home, you wouldn't even give an EPC a first glance.

    But the smaller, cheaper properties that you are marketing to a specific sector, where expenses are important, you are missing a trick...especially with the much publicised hikes in energy bills.

    • 13 July 2011 10:37 AM
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    Interestingly the report openly talks about fudging the data given on EPCs surrounding financial savings because clearly they aren't very large and may not influence people to make behavioural changes.

    Below is a direct quote:

    "These estimated costs have been calculated over a
    three-year period, in order to illustrate the potential
    savings in the longer term. One outstanding question
    is whether the length of time over which these
    savings are calculated will impact the effectiveness
    with which the message motivates people to act.
    For example, a longer time period (for example five
    years) would make the savings appear larger"

    Lies, damn lies and EPCs...

    • 13 July 2011 10:20 AM
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    Do the cabinet office somehow think that a shiny new EPC will increase the number of people who actually take notice of them (18%) ?

    The bottom line is that the vast majority of people buy or rent a property because they like the property, not because of the lightbulbs !

    Being involved in the sale and rental of hundreds of properties, I've yet to meet one person who has elected not to buy or rent based on the outcome of an EPC.

    It is (at best) a waste of time, resources and money.

    • 13 July 2011 09:44 AM
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    Someone help me ! If my maths are correct and the story says that only 17% of the people who find the reports interesting and of value (18%) then that is a very small number. So what is the point?????????

    • 13 July 2011 09:35 AM
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