Would energy rating put you off buying??

ema_o

Hypothetically if you found a great property but it had solid walls and a very poor energy score on the HIP would it put you off buying it?

We're looking at a property like this... but would obviously only buy it at the right price. It is the nicest place we've found though!

I have read about insulation and understand that it's expensive to insulate the outside of your walls and reduces room space if you do it inside. Plus we wouldn't get a grant like they seem to give out for cavity wall insulation.

It also got me thinking that as it's the older properties that I really like I might end up in a house with a similar problem, so just wondered what people thought! So I'm asking for the longer term as well (don't want to be told off for thinking of buying lol!)

sooz

No

Why would you trust the advice of some so called professional 'energy assessor' who probably spent 10 minutes in the house, didn't climb a ladder to look in the loft due to health & safety, & has trouble counting the number of lightbulbs or double glazed windows without taking their socks off?

Solid walls are good
As are period features, high ceilings and real fireplaces.

Infinitely preferable to a new built box that might score one level higher on the pretty colour chart.

Chris2685

I wondered the same thing myself, but have come to the conclusion that unless it is a brand new property, it is unlikely to be above 70, and if it was built before about 1970 it is unlikely to be above 50 energy rating...

I think it is all aload of rubbish really, and a lot of article I have read tend to agree.. Without knocking down and rebuilding an old house, it is pretty hard to get a better energy rating.

Oh, and also, looking at the HIP of the house we are buying, it seems that most things are just 'assumed' by the assessor anyway... worthless!

Topov_3

solid stone walls are great, but not very good insulators. You can get product that line the inside of the walls but having to remove all the plasterwork, line with insulation and then re-plasterboard and skim would be a nightmare. Expensive too I imagine.

If you have a solid wall house that's rendered externally, you can get insulation put onto the outside of the house and then re-rendered over.

A recent issue of Grand Design magazine had a free pull out with tips on green energy and insulation. Both of the internal and external insulation options were covered.

Doozergirl

If you want an old house, you won't get away from a lower energy rating. There are things you can do, so you do all of those.

It doesn't affect my decision to buy as the way the house looks and feels is more important.

You can increase energy ratings, you can't change location, outlook etc. or the simple fact that a house is just lovely.

Lotus-eater

There is a difference between a solid (single brick thickness) brick wall (like I have) and a 2 foot thick stone wall.
Insulation is expensive to put on internal solid walls and even if you are doing a complete rebuild a pain to install.
We bought a house, before hips but we still knew it had solid walls and wouldn't be that efficient. But we got it because we like it.

You have to accept that the heating bills will be higher if you want to keep the same temps as a cavity walled highly insulated house. We just accepted that the maximum we would have our heating on would be 18 degrees.

pinkshoes

I wouldn't give two hoots about what some poxy energy rating says! If it's cold and gas prices increase, I'll put a bloomin' jumper on!

bap98189

No, I wouldn't pay any attention to such a report. I would be interested in whether it had solid walls, double glazing and insulation in the attic. I can draw my own conclusions from checking that far better than some daft report.

morg_monster

Personally it would me, but then I am a pretty cold person (warm heart though!). But then I already know that if I bought an older house with solid walls I would be spending a fortune on heating in the winter, without having to look at a report. I guess an older house with a GOOD energy rating, would definitely pique my interest!

geoffky

yes with costs rising 100% you would be a fool to not do some sums...

wallbash

Pinkshoes has the answer:D

Buying a house , we have all been told many times

Location , location etc etc , then price

But energy rating is not even on the list.