Money Wellness
A row of traditional terraced houses
category iconcost of living
category iconrent & utility help
calendar icon27 Oct 2023

The government ‘needs to stump up cash to make UK homes more energy efficient’

More cash is needed to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes and help householders reduce their bills, it has been claimed.

Some of the worst homes in Europe

A report from the Better Homes Alliance says the UK has some of the least energy efficient homes in Europe.

In 2022, our homes were responsible for nearly 23% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

England in particular has some of the worst housing in terms of energy efficiency, with 59% of homes having an EPC rating lower than C. This is equivalent to around 14.7 million of the country’s 25 million homes. These homes are believed to cost the taxpayer £12.7bn over two years in energy costs.

Potential savings for households

The average household could expect savings of £348 a year were they to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home. And this is based on pre-energy crisis prices so in reality it would probably be a lot more.

Government set to break promise

In its 2022 Autumn Statement, the government promised to reduce energy use in buildings and industry by 15% by 2030 compared to 2021 levels.

But the National Infrastructure Commission’s annual Infrastructure Progress Review 2023 found:

“Key policies remain missing, and government funding is insufficient to deliver the required change.”

Current plans insufficient

The government has announced plans to improve the energy efficiency of about 300,000 homes under its Great British Insulation Scheme.

But the Better Homes Alliance say this is “just the tip of the iceberg” as around 14 million homes need to be upgraded in England alone.

A rebate to renovate

The Better Homes Alliance is proposing a stamp duty rebate for homeowners who invest in upgrading their properties within two years of purchase.

It suggests for the cheapest, least efficient homes, an enhanced rebate (via a grant) could be used as an incentive.

Avatar of Rebecca Routledge

Rebecca Routledge

A qualified journalist for over 15 years with a background in financial services. Rebecca is Money Wellness’s consumer champion, helping you improve your financial wellbeing by providing information on everything from income maximisation to budgeting and saving tips.

Related posts

cost of living

07 Dec 2023

TV licence fee to rise next year

The TV licence will increase by £10.50 from next April. find out what it means for you

cost of living

05 Dec 2023

Help for families who can’t afford Christmas presents for the kids

Millions of households will struggle to afford Christmas presents this year. Here's a list of the charities and organisations who help make sure every child wakes up to a gift from Santa

cost of living

05 Dec 2023

Households buying less veg because of cost of living pressures

Low-income families can’t afford to buy fresh vegetables due to huge price increases. Find out how to get cheap or free fruit and veg

cost of living

05 Dec 2023

Inflation-linked TV licence fee increase could be blocked

£15 increase to the TV licence fee may be reduced due to cost-of-living squeeze

Average Customer Rating:
4.9/5
Independent Service Rating based on 4013 verified reviews. Read all reviews