Thank you for visiting the new website of Homes Matter.

I have created this site to provide a place where professionals can meet,  discuss best practice and exchange information and ideas on how to ramp up the delivery of energy efficient existing homes and homebuying reform. There is NO cost involved for joining or contributing content.

I therefore hope you will participate in the Blogs and Forums,  establish partnerships with members and ask your business associates and work colleagues to also contribute. If you represent a consumer-facing organisation such as a  bank, building society, retailer, supermarket, estate agent or conveyancing firm, you are particularly welcome to join.

 The Problem
Following the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates in 2007, improving the energy efficiency of  homes and the homebuying process are interlinked. However,  progress on delivery has been slow:

Delivering energy efficient homes
The UK has the oldest housing stock in the world with over 70% being privately owned.  Over 85% of  carbon dioxide emissions come from these homes not social housing but to date, government and industry has focused on improving the latter. Unless more resources are urgently allocated to retrofitting privately owned homes, Government's carbon reduction targets will not be met.

The scale of the challenge is unprecedented and the need for action, urgent but no consensus exists on what needs to be done and how it can be best delivered. 

Delivering homebuying reform
Consumers find the process of selling and buying a home to be stressful, time consuming and expensive and there is no certainty a transaction will go ahead resulting in unwanted cost and heartache for millions of sellers and buyers. 

The technology, commercial nous and political will to make the process better exists but initiatives introduced by Government – for example Home Information Packs, Energy Performance Certificates and the Chain Matrix - have not fully delivered on this potential. Reform is long overdue but no consensus exists on what needs to be done and how it can be delivered. 

How can we make it happen? 
To achieve a critical mass of retrofitted homes is a lot easier said than done. Most importantly, it requires £70 billion of funding at a time when Government spending needs to be cut. Where will the money come from?

It also needs organisations that have historically not worked together to now do so; better understanding by public and private stakeholders of  their respective interests and concerns and less expected of Government by way of  legislation. It needs better communication with homeowners on why and how they can improve their homes and better incentives to do so. It also needs consumer-facing organisations to help get the message across, working in partnership with the energy efficiency industry, local councils and community groups.

On homebuying reform, an impasse exists over Home Information Packs. Relationships between stakeholders with differing interests therefore need to be improved and common ground established. This will require leadership, compromise and a willingness by the home selling and buying industry to put the needs of consumers, first.

Homes Matter's founder is therefore trying to facilitate a way forward through discussions with:

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Discussions are also taking place with stakeholders such as:

And, with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Department of Communities and Local Government, London Development Authority, Local Councils, the Opposition parties and others.

About Homes Matter
Homes Matter has no income, employees or external funding. The site was created by the founder on an unpaid volunteer basis. He has no vested interests and is not influenced by any business, group of businesses, stakeholder or lobby group.  For information on the founder please see  http://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelfarren.