‘Give tax breaks to modular homes buyers’ says trade group

Six out of ten renters and buyers say that the environmental performance of a new home is important to them with one in two saying they would pay more upfront for a greener home, research from Make UK Modular reveals.

The findings also show nearly eight in 10 people would pay more upfront for a home with lower energy bills while under 30s see greener homes being of the greatest importance and are more willing to pay more for them.

OVERHAULED

Now ahead of the King’s Speech later today, the trade body for modular housebuilders wants to see Stamp Duty overhauled based on a homes’ energy performance as part of a green housing revolution.

Green Shoots, a report by Make UK Modular, in partnership with Octopus Energy, reveals overwhelming backing from the British public for more energy efficient homes.

It says that by aligning to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recently announced net zero approach, the proposed measures would not add additional burdens on households but instead drive energy efficiency in a way that lowers household bills.

The trade body says applying Stamp Duty based on energy performance alongside reforming the Affordable Homes Programme would ensure that the planning process fast-tracks greener house building.

PUBLIC DEMAND

Daniel Paterson, Director of Government Affairs at Make UK Modular, says: “This report clearly shows wide public demand for modular building methods that reduce the costs to the environment and to household budgets.

“We now need to see action on the part of government to allow for these greener homes that not only help reduce the carbon cost of construction but help the household pocket too.”

And he adds: “Government can help today at zero cost to the Treasury by introducing demand side reforms of Stamp Duty rates, reforming the Affordable Homes Programme allocation for modular builders and using unspent pledged funding to help improve supply chains.”