The UK Green Buildings Council (UKGBC) has today published a report detailing how to use Stamp Duty to incentive a market for energy efficiency.

Elmhurst have long highlighted that the owner occupied sector of the UKs homes have big issues when it comes to energy use and carbon emissions. A big shift in attitudes is required and one sensible way of raising awareness and prompting change is through Stamp Duty changes. The report suggests how to use the Energy Performance Certificate, taking metrics of carbon and energy, and using this to adjust the stamp duty either up or down depending on the efficiency of the home. It goes into detail using worked examples to describe how it could work in practice.

Elmhurst Technical & Operations Director Stuart Fairlie –

“We welcome this excellent report and the fact that it is relatively straight forward to implement. The use of existing mechanisms means that it could work quickly and effectively. We all know that we need to get moving on owner occupied sector and this proposal starts to suggest workable solutions to the Government.”