Energy certificates should make housing cheaper

Energy Performance Certificates which become compulsory on June 1st may play a part in forcing house prices down, according to one housing expert.

Julian Brookes works for GreenMoves which supports sustainable development, said that stamp duty is rumoured to become discountable for those who own green homes as part of the government''s carbon challenge to promote zero carbon housing developments.

Home buyers may be able to haggle down the prices of homes which are not deemed up to scratch in the certificates, thus ensuring people get cheap homes.

He said: "It should be used and seen as a way of seeing whether a property needs money spent on it to bring it up to standard."

The certificates will force improvements in properties which are not selling well such as having increased insulation through double glazing or perhaps having a wind turbine installed.

A recent survey by an online researchers Spongnet says that 92 per cent of the UK population now see being green as important.


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