Regulator warns of home energy certificate impact

Posted: 07 Mar 2007 09:45:54 GMT

The government's regulation watchdog has warned ministers that the launch of home energy certificates this summer could damage the housing market

The government's regulation watchdog has warned ministers that the launch of home energy certificates this summer could damage the housing market.

The Better Regulation Commission added that the government has not presented any evidence that the "additional administrative burdens" will affect energy efficiency.

From June 1st, all home sales must be covered by a £100 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that will rate property on its energy efficiency.

"The government needs to go back to the drawing board," Tory housing spokesman Michael Gove told the Daily Mail.

"It needs to find a more efficient way of achieving its environmental objectives without forcing more costs on already hard-pressed homeowners."

The commission added that EPCs "go beyond the requirement" of the EU laws that they have been drafted to meet, with "insufficient justification that this is warranted".

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