Sky News today has heavily featured the Government’s new home improvement plans to force people into buying more home improvement measures. So, if a customer wants a new conservatory or windows and doors, they may be forced to install loft insulation for example.
The costs of these extra works would be covered by a loan taken out using the Government’s Green Deal scheme. But the problem is, and what Sky News have pointed out today, is will this new law put people off from doing the initial works they intended to do. Lets face it, selling the idea of MAKING you do more work to your home than you really want to at YOUR cost isn’t going to be popular.
A couple were interviewed on Sky News and were told of the idea. Their reaction was less than positive. Government’s own research is already pointing out that up take of the Green Deal is going to be low, and is facing setbacks. The new law is currently in it’s consultation phase, but with the story now making national television and finally giving the general public knowledge that windows and doors are part of the Green Deal, I don’t see that businesses or the general public will feel comfortable about being forced into extra works when they don’t want to have the work done.
I know that most in the window industry I have spoken to about this feel like it’s unworkable and an added pressure that our industry just does not need.
The general feel is that this is unworkeable and will probably ‘die a death’.
The BFRC energy rating system is complicated enough.
We are all trying to run efficient businesses and just don’t need any more thrown at us.
The only good thing about the footage shown was that they chose our showroom for the filming
I was wondering where they did the filming! Now I know! It is unworkable and will be deeply unpopular with pretty much everyone I think.
Thanks for your comment!
My understanding is that conservatories are not subject to the proposed rules surrounding consequential improvement?
Just to elaborate a little… Conservatories are not deemed a habitable space subject to the usual conditions we all know (external dividing door(s), No plumbing, volume etc…) Despite the rules Building inspectors are still clearly operating in the best interests of the consumer or conservatories which are subject to their scrutiny would fail (all conservatories need a full portal style support (not a roof supporting framework) according to Part A… no edge loading allowed in the calcs (we’ll save this for another day) as well as part L as currently, as far as I know, there is no rating/test for… Read more »
Thanks for your comments Ant. Hopefully that info above will be of use to everyone. You are right when you say you are future proofing your business. This is important when new regulations in 2013 and 2016 (think I got those years right!) come into force.
DGB
This will ruin a lot of companies if it comes in. Imagine the year or two after it comes out, every home owner will just sit and wait whilst companies go out of business due to lack of work.