Buyers of energy-inefficient homes ‘should pay more Stamp Duty’

Purchasers of energy-efficient properties should pay less Stamp Duty Land Tax than buyers of homes with a poor energy performance.

The suggestion, which could see purchasers of energy inefficient home paying up to £2,500 more Stamp Duty, has come from think tank Policy Exchange.

It argues that embedding energy efficiency into the housing market and prices paid, buyers would be encouraged to buy energy efficient homes.

Policy Exchange argues that Stamp Duty relief could also apply if buyers made energy improvements within the first year of ownership.

The report also calls for lenders to offer ‘energy efficiency’ mortgages.

Richard Howard, author of the Policy Exchange report, said: “Policies which link property values more closely to energy performance could kick start an energy efficiency revolution in this country.

“By reducing the transaction costs and increasing the mortgage available for a more energy efficient home, the Government could nudge people into making improvements to the efficiency of their home, which would not only add a premium to their property but would also reduce their energy bills.”

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2 Comments

  1. NALR

    Yet another ludicrous idea from these so called think tanks. Who sits on these? and more to the point do they think? So solid 9 inch wall terraced housing from circa 1900 (that bastion of the first time buyer – at least up North it is) is about to get another £2,500 in tax, brilliant thinking, bound to get the market moving, utter “see you next tuesdays.”

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  2. seenitall

    The whole premise of man made global warming is rubbish.  Climate tax is just another tax.

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