News and Blog
What is ECO4?
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government-backed initiative launched in 2013 aimed at improving energy efficiency in homes across the UK. The scheme provides funding for the installation of energy-efficiency measures in millions of homes across the country. These improvements include new heating systems, insulation, and upgraded glazing. ECO adopts both a fabric-first approach and a whole-house retrofit strategy to deliver a more complete upgrade of each home. The latest iteration of this scheme, ECO4, commenced in 2022 and is set to run until March 2026.
The Impact of ECO4
ECO4 is poised to make a significant impact on several fronts:
Reducing fossil fuel reliance
By funding energy-efficient upgrades, ECO4 helps households lower their dependency on fossil fuels, which in turn reduces the nation’s overall carbon footprint.
Combatting fuel poverty
Low-income households can receive funding for a number of energy upgrades, which will help reduce their energy bills. For instance, the scheme makes it possible for households to install insulation either for free or at a heavily discounted rate. Once installed, this insulation will help the home retain its heat, lessening the burden on the heating system and saving the household money on their heating bill. Over time, these savings can substantially alleviate financial pressures on vulnerable families.
Achieving carbon reduction goals
ECO4 supports the UK government’s ambitious target of reaching Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. The millions of upgrades being installed across the country could lead to significant changes. New Minimum Requirements (MR) require band D and E homes to be elevated to at least a band C, and band F and G homes to at least a band D. Given that domestic properties are a major contributor to carbon emissions, these upgrades are crucial in driving national progress toward energy targets. (Source)
Redbridge Green Grant
Friday 25th March 2022
Redbridge Go Green Grant Go Green Grants are available to homeowners and landlords in the borough to help improve the energy efficiency of their homes through the installation of low-carbon heating improvements. This could help save up to £600 a year on energy bills and make homes warmer and more comfortable for the people living in them. The Redbridge Go Green Grants programme was launched in March 2021 following a successful application for £1.7m of funding to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The scheme is funded through the local authority delivery element (LAD delivery phase 1B) of the government’s Green Homes Grant Scheme. The main Government scheme is available to all homeowners and landlords, who can apply for a…
On the Market leading the way.
Tuesday 8th March 2022
https://propertyindustryeye.com/onthemarket-agrees-major-partnership-with-estate-agency-events/
Hackney micro studio smaller than a parking space sells at auction for £40,000 above guide price
Friday 4th March 2022
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/hackney-micro-studio-sold-auction-b984240.html A Hackney microflat smaller than the average parking space has sold at online auction for £90,000. The 75sq ft (7sq m) flat on Saratoga Road in Clapton was originally listed for £50,000 through My Auction. After immense media interest the seller increased the guide price to £75,000 on Monday, February 21. Bidding started yesterday and following an intense six-way bid in the final minutes of the auction the tiny studio sold for £90,000, which works out at £1,200 per square foot.
Social housing to get big grants.
Monday 28th February 2022
Social homes to be improved with £179m grant funding £179 million of grant funding has been offered to 69 local authorities in England, to upgrade their social housing properties. The 1st wave of the government's Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) will aim to upgrade approximately 20,000 social housing properties which currently sit below Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating, between now and the 31st Jan 2023. The energy efficiency upgrades, will go some way in reducing fuel bills for tenants and delivering warmer, more efficient homes. This marks just the first step in the government's commitment to deliver £3.8 billion worth of funding (over a 10 year period) to improve socially rented homes. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) previously launched…
Getting your Epc.
Saturday 19th February 2022
Top up your loft insulation – this is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to improve your EPC rating. Going from no insulation to 270mm can improve the rating by 10 or 15 points, whilst even a top up on existing insulation can get 2-5 points worth of improvement in many cases. Cavity wall insulation If you have cavity walls, make sure they are insulated. Insulating a cavity can improve the rating by 5-10 points on average. Upgrade your heating The heating system is one of the key factors in the EPC. If you have an old boiler, upgrading to a new condensing model will improve your rating by 5-20 points depending on the age of the current system. Insulate your hot…
Commercial Property Investment up
Friday 18th February 2022
https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2022/02/investment-in-commercial-property-rises-50/#!
Ban on non fault evictions.
Monday 14th February 2022
Ban on ‘no fault’ evictions expected to be unveiled in spring https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/section-21-evictions-housing-michael-gove-b981426.html
