For prospective homeowners, factors like the surrounding area and local transport links have historically played a huge role in their pursuit of a dream home. However, new research published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) finds that 1 in 4 buyers are starting to put ‘efficiency’ as their main priority… Here’s why:
The report ‘Watt a Save’, published in October by HBF outlines the cost-friendly benefits new build properties can have, with a particular focus on annual running costs and overall energy usage. Here are some of the key takeaways:
- For homes logged in the year to June 2022, 84% of new builds were rated A or B for energy efficiency, while under 4% of existing dwellings reached the same standards.
- New build properties can save an average of just over £2,000 per property, annually
- On average, the new build properties in the report’s dataset will cost £1,500.43 to run a year, just 42% of the cost of an average existing dwelling, which would be to £3,567.44 per year based on most recent energy prices.
The report could well reflect the surge in popularity new build homes have seen in the last couple of years, along with similar patterns for the Shared Ownership scheme. Emilia Hunt, Sales Director for Metro Finance, noted in her recent blog that as a company Metro Finance have seen a 55% growth in the Shared Ownership mortgages compared to 2020/21.
From affordable rent to shared ownership and market sale properties, Viaduct continue to build homes across all tenures to maximise the opportunity for people to get onto the housing ladder and where funding is available, ensure the focus is on creating more affordable housing in Stockport.
To find out more about how you can take control your energy bills, check out the Home Energy Efficiency booklet below, created in partnership with Stockport Homes and Greater Manchester Housing Partnership. If you are struggling with your household energy costs, Stockport Homes’ Energy Solutions Advisors may be able to support you, offering guidance and reassurance on costs, fuel debt and tariffs.
