Will period property fall out of favour because of high energy bills and energy efficiency measures?

[flashbac]

I love the charm of old/period property. I know I'm not alone. However I do wonder what will happen to them due to energy efficiency measures in the pipeline. Will they fall out of favour?

@gulliblestravels

Tellthemagain

for a few years maybe, but they will slowly become energy efficient because people won't be able to sell them without installing measures to get the EPC up to standard.

Listed properties are exempt from having an EPC

When I bought my house it was an EPC F I've got it to a D, solar panels will push it down to a C. Really it's still an old house with various drafts but the EPC is more of a box ticking exercise that doesn't reflect the reality of a houses true energy efficiency or lack thereof in older properties.

Totally agree that the EPC is a piece of paper that doesn't recognise the complexities of insulating an old house.

Not while the standard is so many new build is poor, cgarmless and cramped.

Charmless!

Capital requirements related to climate change for banks are already being discussed by the regulator. If these houses become unmortgagable or the rate is much higher, then prices will fall when compared with more modern properties. There are things you can do but they are often disruptive and costly. I loved old houses until I lived in a new one - no way would I go back!

@Herhereherhere

There's a really interesting follow on point here about the objectives of the financial regulators, one of which is ensuring access to financial products. It would interfere with this objective for regulation to be too stringent (if they were to become unmortgageable for example). There has been a lot of talk about it but it is unlikely to happen IMO.

After the cladding scandal, I'm very grateful to be in a Victorian property. It feels safer given it has stood the test of time. It's lovely and cool in hot weather, which is important in a warming world - no need for a/c.

In any case I live in a flat surrounded by other flats, which seems to keep the heat in to some extent.

@vera16

I think we need a mind shift in what is prioritised when renovating old properties. I took my Victorian semi mostly back to brick and insulated as far as was feasible with relatively cheap materials. Woodfibre, mineral wool etc. Made it more airtight and installed a ventilation system to keep the humidity down. It was easier to do all of this on an older property as the house was so well built to start with. Thick walls, amazing roof timbers etc. But I had to do my own research to devise a strategy and the builders thought I was crazy.

Didn't that ruin any original features like cornices?