Under the new energy price cap for 28 million households in England, Wales and Scotland, gas and electricity bills will rise by 10% this winter to an average of £1,717 per year1.
For many buyers looking to purchase their first home, the monthly costs of running a household are as much of a consideration as the location and type of home they want to buy. Research by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) found that 58% of households are worried about paying energy bills2 this year, ranking the highest out of other expenses and household essentials such as food and transport costs.
As a result, 77% of people said they had taken at least one cost-saving action to reduce their bills. We have compiled some top tips for first time buyers looking to keep costs down this winter.
Top tips
- Consider the EPC rating of your homes
All homes must come with an Energy Performance Certification (EPC), which reflects the energy efficiency of a property on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). A home with an A rating can expect much lower energy bills than a home with a G rating.
New Part L Building Regulations mean all new build homes must produce at least 31% carbon emissions compared to previous standards. Featuring improved insulation, better heat retention and renewable energy sources such as PV panels, new build homes can be up to 65% cheaper to run than an updated Victoria equivalent.
First time buyers Chloe Wilson (25) and Dexter Bergmann (26) were instantly drawn to new build homes thanks to their energy efficiency, purchasing a three-bedroom detached house at Barratt Homes’ Ryebank Gate development.
Dexter comments: “When we started our search, we immediately looked at new homes based on the price of what was available. Every older property we looked at within budget needed a ridiculous amount of work to be done, which we certainly wouldn’t have the funds to complete any time soon. Our monthly bills were also a huge consideration, and our new home offers us the assurance of lower costs thanks to being EPC B rated – rather than a C or D like many of the older properties currently on the market.”
For Ethan Glackin-McColgan and his husband Daniel, choosing a more energy efficient home at Barratt London Springfield Place, significantly impacted their monthly bills. Ethan said: “Having been in our apartment for a year, we’ve noticed a huge difference in our energy costs. When we were renting in older properties, we had always been in the red energy rating, to finally be in the green with an EPC rating of B feels incredible and helps us save around £400 monthly.”
- Install a smart meter
Some 60% of households now have a smart meter3 installed. While a smart meter won’t automatically save you money, it does help track how much energy you’re using. This means you can be proactive in reducing energy usage, by noticing what appliances or electronics are causing spikes.
Smart meters also mean your energy supplier can see how much energy you’re using day-to-day, so you can be sure you’re not overpaying based on monthly estimated usage.
- Save on heating and appliances
If you’re looking to purchase or replace electronics in your new home, consider investing in A-rated appliances. The better the energy rating of an appliance, the more efficient they are – meaning more savings in the long run.
For example, according to Citizens Advice, an example A-rated washing machine could cost you £13 to run for 100 washes, whereas an E-rated washing machine could cost £23 for 100 washes.
Appliances including fridges, freezers, ovens, dishwashers, TVs and washing machines all come with an energy label to help you understand how much energy they use4.
Make sure you’re not wasting energy by heating empty rooms by turning off radiators, and for your most used spaces, invest in thermal lined curtains. Investing in this type of curtain and ensuring they’re closed in the evening could save an average home up to £291 a year on energy bills.
Finally, many energy suppliers offer peak and off-peak tariffs, with cheaper rates during times of lower demand. Peak hours tend to be between 8am-10pm, while off-peak runs through the night. While considering any potential risk of fire, scheduling appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines to operate throughout the night can help you take advantage of these reduced rates.
Available energy-efficient homes:
Clipstone Park – Leighton Buzzard
Built to Part L standards, current release of 3 & 4 bedroom homes available by Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes.
Living here, residents can enjoy beautiful countryside on their doorstep with over 20 acres of green open space, as well as an array of schools within walking distance and plenty of new amenities to come.
All homes EPC rated A or B, A-rated condensing boilers, low heat-loss hot water cylinders which ensure water stays hotter for longer; and water savings features and fittings helping to save up to 25 litres of water a day per person.
Reach London within 30-minutes at Leighton Buzzard Train Station, and M1 junction 11A in 10-minutes. Prices start from £389,995 for a three bedroom home. Link for sales: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk / https://www.dwh.co.uk/
Springfield Place – Tooting
A collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and houses, EPC rated B. Set in Tooting, where residents will be able to enjoy a new 32-acre park (the largest created since 2012 London Olympics). Residents will be a part of a new residential village with supermarket, café and public square.
Fantastic array of local amenities, and excellent transport links – Tooting Bec Underground, Wandsworth Common, and Earlsfield stations are all within easy walking distance
PRICES: Prices currently start from £435,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. INFORMATION: 0330 057 6666 or visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/dev001958-springfield-place/
Manningtree Park – Essex
Manningtree Park is a collection of 1 to 5 bedroom homes. Designed to reflect traditional local architecture, the picturesque scheme is located off Long Road, situated between the coastal village of Mistley, the traditional village of Lawford, and the sought-after market town of Manningtree.
With tree-lined boulevards, over 11-acres of landscaped parkland and garden squares, the development embraces its countryside surroundings whilst benefiting from commuter links to London in under an hour.
Helping to keep energy bills low and designed with energy efficiency in mind, the homes incorporate efficient combination boilers as well as measures to reduce energy and water usage. With a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA) rating of B, the homes also include a high level of insulation with select properties including provision for electric car charging points.
PRICES: Featured property – £395,000 – The Chrishall– three-bedroom property. Information: https://www.cityandcountry.co.uk/find-a-home/manningtree-park/properties/
Millers View – Essex
A collection of EPC rated B four and five bedroom homes overlooking ancient woodland. Elsenham village offers a Tesco Express, Elsenham Memorial Hall, host to a calendar of sports clubs and arts & crafts events. Five miles away from Elsenham is the historic market town of Bishop’s Stortford, full of high street shops, including Jackson Square Shopping Centre, and plenty of places to stop for food and drinks
PRICES: Prices start from £595,000 for a four bedroom home
INFORMAITON: https://www.dandara.com/new-homes-for-sale/new-homes-essex/elsenham/millers-view/
Building Relations
Building Relations is a PR & communications company that has offices in London, Egham (Surrey) and Edinburgh specialising in property, construction and the built environment. Clients include large and small developers, housebuilders, housing associations & providers, estate, land and buying agents, construction firms and many other types of property-related companies.