Archived press release

Home-sellers' packs must include energy advice

12 January 2001

GOVERNMENT URGED TO KEEP PROMISE AND BACK AMENDMENT

Green campaigners are concerned that the Government may back-track on a key promise on the planned new 'home sellers packs', intended to help speed up property sales.

The Government had promised that the packs would include information on the energy efficiency of the property and advice on how purchasers can cut fuel bills and tackle global climate change by improving it. But the latest draft of the Homes Bill has nothing in it to ensure that future Governments keep this promise. Friends of the Earth wants the Government to back an amendment to ensure that this loophole is plugged. It may be debated as early as Tuesday (16 January) during the Homes Bill's Committee Stage.

Martyn Williams, Parliamentary Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“The Government must keep its promises, and ensure that the home-sellers pack shows buyers how they can save money and fight dangerous climate change by making their new home more energy efficient. Just hoping that future Governments will do this is not good enough. The Government must support the amendment to make energy survey's compulsory.”

As the sellers pack will not come into force until 2003, Friends of the Earth is also supporting a further amendment. This would introduce an interim measure obliging mortgage companies to carry out an 'energy efficiency audit' when conducting property valuations and provide prospective home-buyers with individually tailored advice on reducing fuel bills by making their new house more energy-efficient. The measure, which could help save householders hundreds of pounds every year, is expected to add no more than £15 to the cost of a survey.

The link between energy-use and climate change has been brought home over recent months. Thousands of householders' lives have been made a misery as they count the cost of recent devastating storms and floods. Most experts suspect that climate change is the cause. Its essential that we reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
Domestic energy use is the second biggest culprit. This is why energy efficiency measures in the sellers' pack are so important.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust