In September, Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Minister for Business and Industry and Ellie Reeves MP for Lewisham West and Penge visited a fully retrofitted Southeast London property.
The visit took place shortly after the FMB Annual Parliamentary Reception where Bill Esterson MP publicly backed the work of the FMB, notably the organisation’s push for a National Retrofit Strategy, as a way for consumers to improve their homes and save money on their energy bills.
Retrofitting UK homes
During Bill’s visit he listened to some of the key ways in which retrofit could be made more accessible and affordable to homeowners.
He was told that retrofitting can be a somewhat complicated process for homeowners, builders and the accountants involved due to the confusion around 0% VAT on energy efficiency measures, which is why the FMB is calling on the government to cut the VAT on all repair, maintainenece and improvement (RMI) work.
Nik Nelberg, a member of the FMB London Board recently enabled a homeowner to deliver a low carbon, sustainable and energy efficient home run entirely on an air source heat pump. Nelberg also installed triple glazed windows and ensured the whole property was completely airtight by using a breathable tape.
Nelberg is the Managing Director of Earl and Calam Design and Build, which is one of a growing number of industry specialists that are able to provide expertise on retrofit and deliver a home that is completely energy efficient.
Nelberg said: “The property is so well insulated and airtight, that is does not even need solar power panels to generate electricity. Many people don’t know that heat pumps are just one way to help reduce energy bills and heat pumps work better if there is more insulation in homes. If the property is not well insulated, then it can end up costing the homeowner more money in the long run.”
Upskilling the industry
During the visit, Nik also shared his concerns regarding the shortage of skilled workers and the impact this is currently having on the industry. He explained that a lot of reliable builders have left due to new complicated visa rules.
At FMB, we realise more needs to be done in order to upskill the workforce and professionalise the construction industry, which is why we are calling on the government to invest in more construction apprenticeships to prepare the younger generation with the vocational skills required to excel in the industry.
More government support needed
In order to tackle the energy crisis, we need more long-term policies to be implemented by the Government to make energy saving home renovations both feasible and affordable for average homeowners. One of the practical ways to do this would be to cut VAT on all repair, maintenance and improvement work, which would remove the unnecessary complexity currently placed on the 0% rate for energy efficiency installation of certain products. But, ultimately longer term their must be a fully-fledged national retrofit strategy, like the one we champion through the Construction Leadership Council.
With over 12 million people facing an energy crisis across the UK today, the government needs to follow suit and create policies that benefit homeowners in the long run, and not just short term.
Bill Esterson MP said: “The energy situation is difficult, but we need to have hope, because this home is an exciting opportunity, and an example of a visionary and pioneering homeowner.”
Find out more:
You can keep up to date with our campaigns, catch up with the latest reports published by the FMB here.
Or if you’d like to find out more about retrofitting and our policy work here at the FMB you can contact us on [email protected]
You can also become part of the conversation by joining the FMB and becoming a Master Builder. We offer our members free advice and access to a wide range of services to help you support and grow your business. Apply online or get in touch today.
