All News

Real estate agents should have a responsibility in the energy retrofit of housing, according to the Fédération Nationale de l'Immobilier (FNAIM) which set a goal of 100,000 eco-renovated homes for 2012. With energy efficiency the norm for new buildings, the challenge is existing housing. Agencies are required to display the energy rating of houses in ads and include a diagnosis of energy performance (ECD) acts of sale and residential leases.

"We no longer buy an appliance without checking what is indicated in the energy label. It will take the same habit when buying or renting a home," said Benedict Fauchard, Deputy Chairman FNAIM in charge of sustainable development and regional president of FNAIM Pays de la Loire. FNAIM wants to train its agents to motivate owners, lessors and labor councils to the benefits of environmental work. "The ROI is sometimes long, so it may be the sole motivation of taking action” says Fauchard. 

A survey conducted by FNAIM revealed a significant gap between interest in energy efficiency and taking actions steps to achieve energy efficiency. The survey found that 46% of the French were willing to invest more to achieve good energy performance, but looking at the number of actual transactions following that logic, the number fell to 19%. 

Reinforcing the need for increased awareness, a UK study by the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (a division of the National Association of Estate Agents), revealed the government’s energy efficiency measures are failing to take hold in the private rental sector. The research, conducted among UK landlords, shows that 51% of landlords hadn't heard of the Government’s flagship Green Deal energy policy and 36% don’t know the energy rating of their rental property, despite a requirement of any property to let having an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). 

Ian Potter, Operations Manager at ARLA, said: “Our research suggests that landlords aren’t as clued up as they should be on the energy performance of their properties, and they are therefore not helping tenants to reduce both their energy consumption and energy costs. At a time when energy prices are rising, making a rental property more energy efficient could mean a big difference for tenants, and help a property stand out.”