Mortgage restrictions for non-energy efficient homes ' just around the corner'

Posted: 26 Feb 2010 10:51:56 GMT

Homeowners living in non-energy efficient properties could find that they are soon subject to mortgage restrictions, the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has stated.

Andrew Leech, director at the NHIC, says that in the future it may be that potential home buyers will have to prove that they have plans to make certain properties more energy efficient before they can secure a mortgage.

He believes that this move could encourage homeowners to improve their property's energy efficiency before it is put onto the market.

Mr Leech states that if this measure is introduced, sellers will find it increasingly difficult to find a buyer for their property, as they may not be able to get a mortgage on the home unless its efficiency is improved by another 50 per cent.

His comments come in response to recent data released by The English Housing Survey, which revealed that the energy efficiency of homes in the UK improved between 1996 and 2008.

During this period the average standard assessment procedure increased from 42 in 1996 to 51 in 2008.

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