Is Quality and Sustainability Hitting the Mark?

As a result of the Government’s Housing Standards Review and subsequent deregulation there has been some uncertainty over the future of sustainability in new homes. The Code for Sustainable Homes has for 8 years, been the industry’s defacto standard. It has set the model and level for providing properties that exceed statutory minima helping to provide better quality and more environmentally friendly homes. After its withdrawal earlier this year, we have been waiting for its replacement. We now need wait no longer.

The BRE has released details of its new voluntary standard for new homes, the Home Quality Mark. The new standard aims to give an independent certification to provide consumers with the information they need to identify the performance & costs, health associations and environmental footprint of living in a particular property. It is hoped that consumers will demand the added benefits that living in a Home Quality Mark assessed home will bring and that housebuilders will assess their properties in order to set their homes apart from the competition.

Those familiar with the Code for Sustainable Homes may recognise some of the criteria contained in the Home Quality Mark however don’t be fooled, this is a new standard with a renewed emphasis on real sustainability and benefits for occupants. What is familiar, though, is that homes will be given a score on a 5 star rating system, enabling quick and easy comparison of properties. There are, however, also 3 sub-ratings; these are Householder Costs, Positive Impact on Health & Wellbeing and Environmental Footprint. Armed with these scores, the enhanced value of the property should be apparent to all stakeholders.

The formal release of the Home Quality Mark was anticipated for October 2015, and is now slightly delayed. In spite of this Ingleton Wood has already trained to undertake the new Home Quality Mark assessment and will be ready to start working with you on your scheme from launch.

If you would like more information, an informative presentation on the new scheme, or a quotation please get in touch with Jason Page in the Sustainability Team who will be happy to help.

Home Quality Mark Website - http://www.homequalitymark.com