SSE raises energy prices 8.2% just before winter....again.

MFW_ASAP

donfanatico wrote: »

What do we folks in rental do? We have single glazed windows and single brick extension where our bathroom is. I can't force our LL to invest in insulation and double glazing, can I?

No, but you can move to a more energy efficient home. Landlords now have to have EPC (Energy Performance Certificates) for rented homes. You can ask for this when you are considering a new rental and make your decisions accordingly.

http://www.mypropertyguide.co.uk/articles/display/10075/energy-performance-certificates-for-rented-properties.htm

If enough tenants start choosing their rentals based on energy performance, then landlords will have to update them. I'm sure I saw legislation in the offing that said rented accommodation had to meet at least a 'D' performance grade, which isn't great but is a step in the right direction (if it gets implemented).

donfanatico

MFW_ASAP wrote: »

No, but you can move to a more energy efficient home. Landlords now have to have EPC (Energy Performance Certificates) for rented homes. You can ask for this when you are considering a new rental and make your decisions accordingly.

http://www.mypropertyguide.co.uk/articles/display/10075/energy-performance-certificates-for-rented-properties.htm

If enough tenants start choosing their rentals based on energy performance, then landlords will have to update them. I'm sure I saw legislation in the offing that said rented accommodation had to meet at least a 'D' performance grade, which isn't great but is a step in the right direction (if it gets implemented).

Yes, we have seen the EPC from 2009 on this property it is classed as a D but certainly doesn't feel that way, the other issue is rental costs...the top notch properties are just too expensive for us to rent the difference is massive.

And EPCs are useless by the way they don't mean anything. they include a lot of assumptions form the surveyor (or person that doe sit)

grizzly1911

donfanatico wrote: »

Yes, we have seen the EPC from 2009 on this property it is classed as a D but certainly doesn't feel that way, the other issue is rental costs...the top notch properties are just too expensive for us to rent the difference is massive.

And EPCs are useless by the way they don't mean anything. they include a lot of assumptions form the surveyor (or person that doe sit)

I agree that EPCs are of limited use.

Have you spoken to your landlord. Have you established what assistance may be available to "upgrade" the property from things like ECO?

I am currently looking to get a couple of new boilers fitted for properties I have an interest in through the ECO scheme.

Perhaps cabal may be a better description BTW.

donfanatico

grizzly1911 wrote: »

I agree that EPCs are of limited use.

Have you spoken to your landlord. Have you established what assistance may be available to "upgrade" the property from things like ECO?

I am currently looking to get a couple of new boilers fitted for properties I have an interest in through the ECO scheme.

Perhaps cabal may be a better description BTW.

We are not eligible for ECO as we are not in receipt of any of the listed benefits.

I can certainly ask the landlord abpout the 'Green Deal' scheme

MFW_ASAP

donfanatico wrote: »

Yes, we have seen the EPC from 2009 on this property it is classed as a D but certainly doesn't feel that way, the other issue is rental costs...the top notch properties are just too expensive for us to rent the difference is massive.

And EPCs are useless by the way they don't mean anything. they include a lot of assumptions form the surveyor (or person that doe sit)

Most general purpose surveying is pretty useless, whatever they are surveying but it does provide a figure that is better than nothing, even if it just allows you to encourage your landlord to go for a 'C' rating by fitting double-glazing (or whatever).

If you don't ask then you don't get. If your landlord isn't interested in keeping a decent tenant by just spending a bit on his properties (that he can offset against his tax bill anyway) then I'm sure there are others who will be.

Not all 'bottom-end' rental properties have uncaring landlords, just like not all top-end ones have brilliant ones.

Graham_Devon

Sir John Major has today come out and thrown a cat amongst the pigeons!

He's suggested the current government is not doing enough and a one of tax on the profits of energy companies should be imposed as the welfare bill to keep people warm each year continues to rise.

While he doesnt agree with Milliband in freezing prices, he does agree that the profits are vast, and has already stated elsewhere the profits of 5% discussed is a game of smoke and mirrors.

The energy minister came out in response and said the proposal put forward was interesting, but that consumers need to switch to avoid price rises. To be fair, he looked extremely embarrassed and somewhat hesitant to suggest this in response, but had to go with the tory script I expect.

Has piled pressure on Cameron's "do nothing" approach.

grizzly1911

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Sir John Major has today come out and thrown a cat amongst the pigeons!

He's suggested the current government is not doing enough and a one of tax on the profits of energy companies should be imposed as the welfare bill to keep people warm each year continues to rise.

While he doesnt agree with Milliband in freezing prices, he does agree that the profits are vast, and has already stated elsewhere the profits of 5% discussed is a game of smoke and mirrors.

The energy minister came out in response and said the proposal put forward was interesting, but that consumers need to switch to avoid price rises. To be fair, he looked extremely embarrassed and somewhat hesitant to suggest this in response, but had to go with the tory script I expect.

Has piled pressure on Cameron's "do nothing" approach.

That switching line is carp. I really don't know how they have the front to keep spouting it.

Yes switching is low. If everyone piled out of those increasing prices the remaining operators would simply stop the offers. The tariff structure is takes into account that only a very low amount will actual pick the cheapest deal.

How long before the others increase their prices - and what will be the effective date.

Major did same something along the lines that Milliband was in the right place with his ideas. Thatch will be turning in her sarcophagus.

Loughton_Monkey

grizzly1911 wrote: »

.....Thatch will be turning in her sarcophagus.

I expect she's been spinning like a carousel every single day she's been there!

burnleymik

CLAPTON wrote: »

maybe cartel like but

the cost of 'raw' materials are large determined by the international market place

Lets not forget that these companies like Centrica are making sure they are manipulating to keep the prices high on teh commodities markets and making a hell of a lot of money on the back of it and then crying poverty to us that wholesale pricves are high....

OFGEM promised to look into it earlier this yer, but they are toothless:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/06/uk-ofgem-investigation-idUKBRE9550RI20130606

Participants in Britain's gas and power market said fines would need to be sufficiently large to deter infringements.
"Penalties would need to be around half of the profit made from breaches of REMIT to act as a strong disincentive - in addition to paying back the sum made by traders through any wrongdoing," said one trader.

All the while making ridiculously large profits:

http://www.centrica.com/index.asp?pageid=1041&newsid=2825


£13.7 billion, for the period ending 30th June.

It's all just a huge cartel, whilst hiding behind smoke and mirrors

Fella

Sigh. Listed companies are meant to make profits. It's their obligation to their shareholders.

If Labour don't like it they should have renationalised them. They had 13 years to do that. And Miliband was energy secretary.

This whole furore over energy prices is just Labour desparately trying to find a new angle to win votes as their only angle since this parliament began ("austerity will make the recession worse") has been proven to be utter bunk.

We could and should have lower energy prices in this country. Scrapping the ridiculous & ill-timed green measures would be the best start.

China must be laughing themselves sick. The UK signs up to green measures that make it's power massively expensive, coal mines shut down etc. Their new strategy requires them to build new nuclear - which they're going to pay the Chinese among others, well over the odds to do. The Chinese meanwhile, get the massive contract to build UK Nuclear, whilst sticking their fingers up at meeting green measures themselves.

An utter mess, the coalition could hardly have handled this worse.