Majority of UK households call for cheaper mortgages for greener homes

New research from energy company Vattenfall reveals 61% of Brits believe mortgages should be cheaper if they are loaned on homes that emit fewer emissions.

What are UK adults’ attitudes to energy and heating?

Vattenfall’s study also uncovered that there is confusion amongst UK households about what electricity and heat upgrades they should make. According to the study, less than one in four say they would know what kind of heating system they would need if gas boilers had to be replaced with low-carbon alternatives, for example.

The survey analysed attitudes and knowledge around energy and heating in the UK. The findings come ahead of the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy, expected to outline a plan for emission-free housing. 

According to the study, the majority (62%) of UK adults would prefer to live in a home that did not produce carbon emissions. Although many do not know how they will fund the upgrade. Less than a quarter of respondents (23%) were confident that they would be able to stump up the cost to install a low carbon heating system in their home.  

The study also showed an even split over whether it should be more difficult to secure a mortgage for more polluting homes, with a third of respondents each agreeing and disagreeing (both 32%) when questioned on this.  

There is a variety of ways that heating homes can be decarbonised from installing heat pumps, connecting homes to district heat networks in urban areas, and potentially using hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas. 

What is the government doing about carbon emissions?

According to the government, heat accounts for over a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. The government has also stated that decarbonising heat is important to reaching their clean growth objectives.

Around 24 million homes and businesses use fossil fuels for heating and the Government has been warned by their advisors on the Climate Change Committee there needs to be a plan to phase out fossil fuel heating to hit the target of net zero by 2050.  

Mike Reynolds, managing director at Vattenfall Heat UK, says: “Our research shows that although people want to live in low-carbon homes, most don’t know what they need to do to convert their properties nor how they would pay for it.”

“The huge cost of insulating homes and removing emissions from heating means we can’t expect bill payers to stump up the money for everything. We need a plan setting out what upgrades need to happen where, and new ideas - such as affordable and simple mortgages for homeowners, or incentives for commercial property owners to go green – to get the money flowing to pay for all of this.”

Reynolds concludes: “The Government’s forthcoming Heat & Buildings Strategy is the perfect opportunity to set out practical policies which will kick-start this massive task.”