Helping Innovate Property (HIP) – Blog, Housing Market News and Articles

Energy prices continue to rise and there seems to be no signs of them slowing. Channel 4 News recently reported that an independent report commisioned by Centrica shows that gas prices are set to rise 70% from current costs.

Is this yet another catalyst for consumers to further look at how they utilise their gas and electric supplies to their properties?

Energy prices have surged since Feburary of 2007 and all the customers of the major players British Gas, Npower, EDF, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy and E.On have had to support big increases in fuel prices.

Certainly at present many households are feeling the ‘credit crunch’ and are often looking at making cost savings that they can make within their current lifestyles . Energy saving and efficiency is becoming a higher priority amongst many; not only looking to compare energy prices within the market place but how they can become more efficient and ultimately use less energy.

So how do we use less and cut our bills?

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Training as a domestic energy assessor (DEA) may seem like a good opportunity but it is essential to gain a good understanding of the market place prior to entering into the energy assessment field.

HIP-Consultant.co.uk has develop its services and areas we can provide Home Infomation Packs (HIPS) over a relatively short period. This expansion has been carried out gradually to ensure the continuity of quality remains; and that we do not fall foul of sacrificing customer service which has been key to the high level of customer satisfaction we have achieved.

HIP-Consultant.co.uk receive enquiries on almost a daily basis from current or potential domestic energy assessors (DEA) as I am sure other organisation will do. The discussion within the industry continues to be one of concern in regard to the current and rising number of DEAs; concerns which HIP-Consultant.co.uk mirror. The question which is inevitably asked by prospective DEAs is ‘should I train as a domestic energy assessor?‘
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The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) makes recommendations and this is becoming more widely familiar as the EPBD legislation is becoming further understood and implemented. HIP-Consultant.co.uk welcomes the national EPC awareness campaign that is currently running and feel this can only help promote the significance and importance of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Once the Domestic Energy Assessment has taken place and the Energy Performance Certificate has been issued, for example within the Home Information Pack (HIP); the EPC recommendations are being looked at by the new owners of the related property and are increasingly making improvements based upon this section of the EPC.

Please click image to enlarge.

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Landlords and managing agents are now acting on the EPC requirements of the EPBD legislation ahead of the 1st October. We recently posted about Landlords EPC requirements and wanted to add further information in regard to what counts as marketing a property and what certain scenarios require.

As of the 1st October 2008; when as is usual a letting agent managing agent or landlord produces details for marketing purposes of the property which is being offered for rent it will often consist of information including:

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HIP-Consultant.co.uk have been providing EPCs for Landlords as the important date of the EPBD legislation nears i.e. 1st October 2008. We have been pleased to be able to help Landlords apply for energy saving grants to act on the recommendations within the Energy Performance Certificates for their rented properties.

Landlords are able to apply for energy efficiency grants/allowances and have been able to since the Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) scheme was introduced on 6th April 2004 and then 2 years later expanded upon. It will be of interest to see if the level of LESA applications rise due to the Energy Performance Certificates that Landlords will soon require and have to make available. See this post for more information for when Landlords must provide EPCs.

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After posting about receiving the email in regard to the lady’s energy saving due to the Energy Performance Certificate; I carried out further research around simple low cost energy saing tips.

There is alot of information out there, our own energy saving tips included. Alot of the advice and information contains similar points.

However, I came accross quite an amusing energy saving tips page at the Energy Saving Centre where one of the tips; tip 23 – is giving children 2p every time they turn the lights off in an empty room.

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We received an email today from a client telling us about the impact the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) had on their energy consumption and lifestyle.

The client had a domestic energy assessment carried out on their property as part of the Home Information Pack (HIP) process and to cut a long story short decided to take the house off the market and make improvements; some of which were detailed within the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

We try and provide resources and information as an addition to undertaking the energy assessment which the client had used. The lady had accessed grants available in her area for both cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. I must add at this point that these can now be applied for by most people whatever your circumstances. There are further details within our main site.

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The domestic energy assessment seems to still hold myths about what is and is not invloved. We receive questions and concerns from owners fairly regularly. So we have written this post to help explain what an Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) will be looking at during the visit.

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From 1 October 2008 all homes being let will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

The complexities of this legislation seems yet to be fully understood by all and has promted us to expand our EPC FAQ page.

Some of the points of the legislation which I feel are paramount to Landlords are:
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