House builders wanting to stand out in a crowded marketplace are turning to water and energy compliance specialist Genex to help them earn a sustainability certification.
Requests for the BRE’s Home Quality Mark certificates have been on the rise over the past few months from developers of high-end rental apartments and new builds for purchase.
And while the HQM certification is not mandatory, part of its appeal is that developers can justify higher monthly rental or purchase prices, which are offset to the householder through reduced fuel bills.
One of the latest developers requesting Genex’s expertise is a build-to-rent provider creating thousands of apartments in several of England’s major cities, including large-scale developments of more than 700 apartments.
Genex senior environmental consultant and BREEAM accredited professional Wayne Maw explained: “More and more developers are using HQM to showcase sustainable developments and to gain an edge over their competitors. The certification, which offers star ratings for various aspects of the home’s design, helps builders demonstrate the high quality of their homes and differentiate them in the marketplace. It reassures householders that the new homes they are choosing to buy or rent are well designed and built and cost effective to run.
“Every home with an HQM certificate meets standards which are significantly higher than minimum standards such as Building Regulations. The certification looks at energy efficient aspects such as as insulation, car charging units and smart meters, for example.
“With concern about climate change and the environment becoming more mainstream and with rising fuel prices having a major impact on households, living in a well designed, energy efficient home is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘must have.’ “
