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12 May 2009
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A new study of Britain’s homeowners by AA Personal Loans reveals a quarter of the nation’s homes are set to increase in size before the end of the recession.
Changes in the way the homeowners are using their living spaces will see the standard floor plan of a house change dramatically with almost one in four (24%) of renovated homes growing by an extra room.
As house prices have on average dropped by almost 10%, it seems homeowners are putting their own needs above resale value and taking a longer term view of their property by treating their properties as homes rather than an investment.
Of those hoping to build an extension to add a new room to their property, one of the most popular choices of room was one for entertaining, with almost a quarter (23%) looking to build one and a sixth (15%) intending to use their new extension as an office.
While the function of the rooms is clearly different, both hint at a more domestic than economic purpose: whether it is homeowners looking to do their entertaining at home, or preparing a room to allow working from home; both improvements can be seen as a result of the economic climate.
Comfort rather than value The AA Personal Loans study also reveals that almost five million people have decided against selling their home in the face of recession while over six million will definitely be renovating their property within the next 12 months.
When asked why they were making improvements, almost six in ten homeowners (57%) responded that their motivation was to create a nicer living environment.
Conversely, just half that – three in ten (32%) – are renovating their home to add value to it.
24 April 2009Changes in the way the homeowners are using their living spaces will see the standard floor plan of a house change dramatically with almost one in four (24%) of renovated homes growing by an extra room.
As house prices have on average dropped by almost 10%, it seems homeowners are putting their own needs above resale value and taking a longer term view of their property by treating their properties as homes rather than an investment.
Of those hoping to build an extension to add a new room to their property, one of the most popular choices of room was one for entertaining, with almost a quarter (23%) looking to build one and a sixth (15%) intending to use their new extension as an office.
While the function of the rooms is clearly different, both hint at a more domestic than economic purpose: whether it is homeowners looking to do their entertaining at home, or preparing a room to allow working from home; both improvements can be seen as a result of the economic climate.
Comfort rather than value The AA Personal Loans study also reveals that almost five million people have decided against selling their home in the face of recession while over six million will definitely be renovating their property within the next 12 months.
When asked why they were making improvements, almost six in ten homeowners (57%) responded that their motivation was to create a nicer living environment.
Conversely, just half that – three in ten (32%) – are renovating their home to add value to it.
Britain's 26m homes produce 27% of the UK's carbon emissions, that's why Kevin McCloud is calling for a revolution in your loft.
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The world needs to reduce its carbon emissions by roughly half before 2050. But here's a fact: it's doing the exact opposite at the moment and increasing them. Our government, meanwhile, has stalwartly set this country the target of reducing its carbon emissions by 80% by the same date.
But that figure isn't some distant, long-term objective.
It's a point on a sliding scale of carbon-saving that we need to start now.
By way of a kick-start, the government is launching its low-carbon strategy this summer that sets out a roadmap (or should that be cycleway guide?) to 2020 and should include a hard shoulder of stringent measures for homeowners. There are approximately 26m homes in Britain, most of them as well insulated as a rabbit hutch, most of which will still be in existence in 2050. And those homes are responsible for around 27% of Britain's carbon emissions.
So the government is going to have to get tough with all homeowners, tree huggers and petrol heads alike. None of whom are of course averse to the idea of saving energy when it also saves money. The problem is not the long-term saving but the up-front eye-watering cost of getting your home refurbished to the sort of standard we need. People tend to either move or die of old age before recouping the financial payback of these measures.
Which is why a number of august institutions like WWF, the UK Green Building Council and the Energy Saving Trust have combined forces with Grand Designs Magazine to launch a national campaign, the Great British Refurb. We're on a mission to help and champion Britain's homeowners and tenants.
To develop the means to upgrade our housing stock so that it's warmer, more comfortable, more efficient. And to persuade government to introduce new ways of financing the wholesale retrofitting of our homes and to turn them into low-carbon dwellings that can even produce energy and sell it back to the grid.
We know there are thousands – probably millions – of people who would love to refurbish their home to a higher standard, use less energy and even produce their own. So at the heart of our campaign will be a petition to the prime minister – asking the government to make it easier and more affordable for people to green their homes. The petition will ask for intelligent ways of spreading out the cost of green refurbishment and for financial incentives to persuade people to take the leap.
And our campaign takes on the practical, knee-tremblingly difficult challenges as well. Britain's older housing is immensely varied, dependent on vernacular styles and a vast range of materials that give the historic built environment of the British Isles a lot of charm and diversity. We can't just slap insulation board over every home in the country and then apply a coat of efficient German render.
We need carefully tailored solutions from a re-energised construction industry. We need an army of properly accredited and trained installers and the involvement of surveyors and architects as local consultants. I'd like to see communities come together to empower themselves and for the government to provide local grant aid.
But we need to start doing all this right now. The budget tossed us a few green scraps, but didn't go anywhere near far enough. To keep to the 2020 carbon goal and the government's eventual target of refurbishing 7m homes by 2020, we need to have retrofitted a whopping 50,000 homes to low-carbon standards by the end of 2010. By the end of 2011, another 100,000. By 2020 we need to be refurbishing at least 1.6m homes a year. It is a mighty task but one not beyond the capabilities of our now-dormant construction industry nor our design professions.
Momentum is building. An incredibly well-timed initiative by the Guardian, Green your home, also began this week and I'm looking forward to viewing the blog entries and video diaries. It's all fuel to the cool, green, carbon-free fire. Which is what this campaign is about: a public mandate for a revolution in our lofts.
17 February 2009
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The research, carried out for Gas Safe Register™, which on April 1 replaces the CORGI gas registration scheme as Great Britain's gas safety body, highlighted a worrying discrepancy between people's perception of danger and their willingness to risk their family's safety.
While 82% of those questioned considered it dangerous to fit a gas fire themselves, 1 in 10 was still prepared to do so.
Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. They can also lead to gas leaks and explosions. Tragically, on average 25 people a year die from CO poisoning, and many more suffer health problems from CO exposure directly related to gas. In addition, some 40 people a year are killed or injured in gas explosions. (Source: HSE Gas Safety Statistics)
Said Ann Robinson, Gas Safe Register's director of public awareness:
If anyone thinks DIY gas work can save them money, they should think again. For the sake of a few pounds, they risk endangering the life of anyone who lives in that property - a life that is priceless.
Paul Overton is acutely aware of this. His stepdaughter died in her sleep and CO poisoning due to a faulty gas boiler affected four other family members. He now campaigns for better understanding of the causes and effects of CO poisoning. Paul was living in a rented property at the time, and the landlord had failed to have the gas appliances checked and serviced annually.
Worryingly, the research for Gas Safe Register found that regular servicing of gas appliances is not a priority in far too many households. Almost a fifth (19.05%) of households with a gas boiler had not had it serviced for at least three years and an alarming 13% of households had never had their boiler serviced or would only do so if there was a problem.
The figures for maintaining gas fires were even worse. Almost 1 in 3 (29%) never serviced their gas fire, or last had it serviced or maintained over three years ago.
Said Ann Robinson:
Keeping the public safe is Gas Safe Register's top priority. If we are to reduce life-threatening accidents a properly qualified and correctly registered engineer must carry out all gas work. From April 1, if someone other than a Gas Safe registered engineer carries out gas work at your home, you could be risking the safety of your family and your property.
Added Ann Robinson:
We recommend you have a gas safety check once a year. Some vulnerable people on means tested benefits may be entitled to a free annual gas safety check and they should ask their energy supplier about this.
2 February 2009
While 82% of those questioned considered it dangerous to fit a gas fire themselves, 1 in 10 was still prepared to do so.
Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. They can also lead to gas leaks and explosions. Tragically, on average 25 people a year die from CO poisoning, and many more suffer health problems from CO exposure directly related to gas. In addition, some 40 people a year are killed or injured in gas explosions. (Source: HSE Gas Safety Statistics)
Said Ann Robinson, Gas Safe Register's director of public awareness:
If anyone thinks DIY gas work can save them money, they should think again. For the sake of a few pounds, they risk endangering the life of anyone who lives in that property - a life that is priceless.
Paul Overton is acutely aware of this. His stepdaughter died in her sleep and CO poisoning due to a faulty gas boiler affected four other family members. He now campaigns for better understanding of the causes and effects of CO poisoning. Paul was living in a rented property at the time, and the landlord had failed to have the gas appliances checked and serviced annually.
Worryingly, the research for Gas Safe Register found that regular servicing of gas appliances is not a priority in far too many households. Almost a fifth (19.05%) of households with a gas boiler had not had it serviced for at least three years and an alarming 13% of households had never had their boiler serviced or would only do so if there was a problem.
The figures for maintaining gas fires were even worse. Almost 1 in 3 (29%) never serviced their gas fire, or last had it serviced or maintained over three years ago.
Said Ann Robinson:
Keeping the public safe is Gas Safe Register's top priority. If we are to reduce life-threatening accidents a properly qualified and correctly registered engineer must carry out all gas work. From April 1, if someone other than a Gas Safe registered engineer carries out gas work at your home, you could be risking the safety of your family and your property.
Added Ann Robinson:
We recommend you have a gas safety check once a year. Some vulnerable people on means tested benefits may be entitled to a free annual gas safety check and they should ask their energy supplier about this.
On 1 April 2009, the new Gas Safe Register™ replaces the CORGI gas registration scheme as Great Britain's gas safety authority.
Read more...
By law, from 1 April, only Gas Safe registered engineers should be employed to carry out work on gas installations or appliances, CORGI gas registration will not be valid.On 1 April 2009, the new Gas Safe Register™ replaces the CORGI gas registration scheme as Great Britain's gas safety authority.
The 120,000 engineers currently verified under the CORGI scheme are now registering with Gas Safe Register so they can continue to work legally from April.
Keeping the public safe is Gas Safe Register's top priority. If someone other than a Gas Safe registered engineer carries out gas work at your home, you could be risking the safety of your family and your property.
Simple search and verification finding a Gas Safe registered engineer will be simple. From 1 April, you will be able to find an engineer in your area online at or by calling 0800 408 5500.
Registered engineers will be identified with the new yellow Gas Safe Register logo, and every engineer will carry a Gas Safe Register ID card with their own unique licence number.
The message from Gas Safe Register is clear. Before you have any gas work done in your home, make sure you check the card.
Combating illegal installers The primary aim of Gas Safe Register is to help make Great Britain gas safe. The new scheme will work to improve consumer awareness of gas safety issues and target unregistered installers.
Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. They can also lead to gas leaks and explosions. On average over 25 people a year die from CO poisoning, and many more suffer health problems from CO exposure directly related to gas. Around 40 people a year are killed or injured in gas explosions. (Source: HSE Gas Safety Statistics)
Said Ann Robinson, Gas Safe Register's director of public awareness:
Gas safety is a life or death matter that affects the entire nation. As the new hallmark for gas safety in Great Britain from 1 April, Gas Safe Register will raise public awareness of the dangers of using unregistered installers and explain how easy it is to avoid them by always using a registered engineer.
Ann Robinson continued:
We will be encouraging consumers to make sure their work is carried out competently and safely by always asking to see a Gas Safe registered engineer's ID card. If they are at all suspicious that a trader offering gas services is unregistered, they can prevent lives from being endangered by reporting the individual to Gas Safe Register and we will work with the Health and Safety Executive and trading standards to investigate and take action against those trading illegally.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is highlighting the fatal consequences of inhaling carbon monoxide gas following the death of a six-year-old girl who was poisoned by fumes from a faulty boiler.
The 120,000 engineers currently verified under the CORGI scheme are now registering with Gas Safe Register so they can continue to work legally from April.
Keeping the public safe is Gas Safe Register's top priority. If someone other than a Gas Safe registered engineer carries out gas work at your home, you could be risking the safety of your family and your property.
Simple search and verification finding a Gas Safe registered engineer will be simple. From 1 April, you will be able to find an engineer in your area online at or by calling 0800 408 5500.
Registered engineers will be identified with the new yellow Gas Safe Register logo, and every engineer will carry a Gas Safe Register ID card with their own unique licence number.
The message from Gas Safe Register is clear. Before you have any gas work done in your home, make sure you check the card.
Combating illegal installers The primary aim of Gas Safe Register is to help make Great Britain gas safe. The new scheme will work to improve consumer awareness of gas safety issues and target unregistered installers.
Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. They can also lead to gas leaks and explosions. On average over 25 people a year die from CO poisoning, and many more suffer health problems from CO exposure directly related to gas. Around 40 people a year are killed or injured in gas explosions. (Source: HSE Gas Safety Statistics)
Said Ann Robinson, Gas Safe Register's director of public awareness:
Gas safety is a life or death matter that affects the entire nation. As the new hallmark for gas safety in Great Britain from 1 April, Gas Safe Register will raise public awareness of the dangers of using unregistered installers and explain how easy it is to avoid them by always using a registered engineer.
Ann Robinson continued:
We will be encouraging consumers to make sure their work is carried out competently and safely by always asking to see a Gas Safe registered engineer's ID card. If they are at all suspicious that a trader offering gas services is unregistered, they can prevent lives from being endangered by reporting the individual to Gas Safe Register and we will work with the Health and Safety Executive and trading standards to investigate and take action against those trading illegally.
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Hussein Jajbhay, who is a director of property company Amadeus Investments Ltd, was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £35,000 costs at Blackfriars Court on Friday, having previously pleaded guilty to two counts under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Bill Hazleton, HSE Inspector, said: "This tragic case emphasises the importance of maintaining and checking gas appliances. Carbon Monoxide gas is a silent killer, you cannot smell or see it.
"Landlords have a duty to maintain their gas appliances, and it is illegal and highly dangerous not to have them checked yearly by a competent, registered gas fitter."
Elisabeth Giaque was living with her family in a rented house in Castle Close, Wimbledon. On 4 February 2005 her parents went out for the evening, leaving their three children in the care of their nanny.
On their return they found the six-year-old unconscious in her bedroom. She was rushed to hospital where she died two days later.
It was later established that she died from carbon monoxide.
Four days later, two other family members who had stayed overnight in Elisabeth's room, collapsed and were taken to hospital. They were also found to be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It is the duty of the landlord to ensure gas appliances, boilers and flues are maintained in a safe condition.
An annual safety check must be undertaken by a registered installer, who must provide a record of the inspection.
Hussein Jajbhay was the owner and landlord of the property at Castle Close. The last service and maintenance of the boiler at the property was carried out in January 2002. A landlords' gas safety certificate was issued following an inspection in January 2003, which expired more than 12 months before the fatal incident.
Hussein Jajbhay pleaded guilty to two charges under 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failure of maintenance and failure to maintain a gas fitting in a safe condition.
Source: http://www.build.co.uk/construction
Bill Hazleton, HSE Inspector, said: "This tragic case emphasises the importance of maintaining and checking gas appliances. Carbon Monoxide gas is a silent killer, you cannot smell or see it.
"Landlords have a duty to maintain their gas appliances, and it is illegal and highly dangerous not to have them checked yearly by a competent, registered gas fitter."
Elisabeth Giaque was living with her family in a rented house in Castle Close, Wimbledon. On 4 February 2005 her parents went out for the evening, leaving their three children in the care of their nanny.
On their return they found the six-year-old unconscious in her bedroom. She was rushed to hospital where she died two days later.
It was later established that she died from carbon monoxide.
Four days later, two other family members who had stayed overnight in Elisabeth's room, collapsed and were taken to hospital. They were also found to be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
It is the duty of the landlord to ensure gas appliances, boilers and flues are maintained in a safe condition.
An annual safety check must be undertaken by a registered installer, who must provide a record of the inspection.
Hussein Jajbhay was the owner and landlord of the property at Castle Close. The last service and maintenance of the boiler at the property was carried out in January 2002. A landlords' gas safety certificate was issued following an inspection in January 2003, which expired more than 12 months before the fatal incident.
Hussein Jajbhay pleaded guilty to two charges under 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failure of maintenance and failure to maintain a gas fitting in a safe condition.
Source: http://www.build.co.uk/construction
