industry news
High cost of renting revealed
The average cost of renting a property outside London rose by an above-inflation figure of 5.1 per cent in the 12 months to April, while tenants in the capital faced a 7.7 per cent increase, according to the latest figures from specialist lettings firm HomeLet. Its index, based on new lets agreed by
landlords and agents, showed that in the three months to April 2016 the average rent outside London rose to £764 a month. Within London the average monthly rent was £1,543.
“The figures are revealing as they cover the first month since the introduction of higher stamp duty charges on second homes and investment properties, introduced to cool the buy-to-let market and reduce competition for first time buyers”
The figures are revealing as they cover the
first month since the introduction of higher stamp duty charges on second homes and investment properties, introduced to cool the buy-to-let market and reduce competition for first time buyers. HomeLet said rents were rising fastest in
Scotland with the average up by 11.4 per cent year-on-year to £704 a month. The next highest rise was in the East Midlands, where new tenancies cost 7.9 per cent more than in April 2015 and were averaging at £646 a month. In contrast rents for new tenants in North West England were down by 1 per cent.
HMM Stats
There were 23.5 million dwellings in England at 31 March 2015, an increase of 171,000 dwellings (0.73 per cent) on the same point the previous year. 14.7 million dwellings were owner occupied dwellings, 4.7 million private rented dwellings and 4.0 million social and affordable rented dwellings.
18 | HMM May 2016 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
Ground breaking heating project wins Energy Efficiency Award
An innovative project to provide cost- effective, renewable heating to four tower blocks in North London has been recognised at the Energy Efficiency & Retrofit Awards. The Exeter Road Retrofit Project is a joint
initiative between the London Borough of Enfield, Ice Energy Technologies and Agility Eco aiming to tackle fuel poverty, raise heating standards and improve the local community as a whole. As such, the project was named Regional Large Scale Project of the Year at the awards held at Wembley Stadium on April 11th 2016. An innovative Ground Source Heat Pump
design produced by Ice Energy Technologies utilised a 205 mm deep communal ground loop which accesses stored solar energy beneath the ground. This low-grade heat is then concentrated by individual heat pumps within each flat in order to provide a total heating and hot water solution for t he resident. The ground source heating solution, which
is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, is expected to deliver reductions in heating costs of more than 80 per cent and will replace the fialing electric underfloor heating previously used in the properties. Commenting on the project, Councillor
Ahmet Oykener, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing & Housing Regeneration said: “This innovative solution satisfies all our requirements. It provides warmth and hot water at much reduced cost; harnesses a natural heat source reducing our carbon emissions and replaces an old underfloor heating system. Each borehole will supply a source of heating to four flats and our
residents will really benefit from a reliable system at a reduced energy cost.” Ice Energy Found and Managing Director,
Andrew Sheldon, said: “Exploiting stored, natural, solar energy from the ground is one of the best ways to provide heating and hot water supplies. it is safe and efficient and we are delighted to be contributing to this project which also features remote web monitoring enabling remote diagnostics and on-going efficiency measurement.” Agility ECO Managing Director, Jon Kimber,
said: “This new energy efficient heating and hot water system is part of the council’s drive to tackle fuel poverty and provide decent homes for Exeter Road tenants. the fact we can do this using renewable energy is a double benefit and we’re looking forward to seeing positive results for nearly 200 Exeter Road households.”
“The ground source heating solution delivered at the Exeter Road Retrofit project is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, and is expected to deliver reductions in heating costs of more than 80 per cent. It will replace the failing electric underfloor heating previously used at the properties with a total heating and hot water solution”
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