People buying draughty, poorly-insulated old Victorian houses should have to pay up to £2,500 extra in stamp duty, an influential think-tank has proposed. Higher rates of stamp duty should be levied on anyone buying a house with the worst energy efficiency ratings of E, F or G, encouraging homeowners to upgrade their properties to make them more saleable, Policy Exchange said. More than one million homes – primarily Victorian, pre-war and inter-war properties – are rated ‘F’ or ‘G’ and would attract the highest stamp duty charges under the proposal, which the think tank argues would increase the installation of measures such as double glazing, loft insulation and new boilers. The cost of the upgrades for the owner would be more than offset by savings on their energy bills and the price premium the house would attract due to the lower stamp duty, it suggests. People buying the most efficient properties should also be offered discounts of up to £2,500 on stamp duty, it proposes.
Telegraph 2nd Mar 2016 read more »
Guardian 2nd Mar 2016 read more »
A major programme to make public sector buildings more energy efficient gets underway today. Twelve suppliers have been appointed to a procurement framework to deliver energy efficiency retrofit works and services that will improve the energy performance of the public sector. The suppliers will ensure buildings are fitted with modern, efficient technology that supports the Scottish Government’s ambition on energy demand reduction and tackling climate change. All Scottish public sector organisations, registered social landlords and third sector will be able to access the scheme. The scale of the retrofit opportunity across the Scotland is estimated to be £300 million, with associated savings to public sector energy bills of up to £30m per year.
Scottish Construction Now 1st Mar 2016 read more »