SKIPTON Building Society is partnering with sister agency, Vibrant Energy Matters Limited, to offer all its mortgage customers a free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Plus report for their homes - the first of its kind - at an investment cost to the Society of £11 million.

The EPC Plus reports provide expert, bespoke guidance to homeowners - in homes 10 years or older - on how to make their homes more energy efficient and details how much they could save on future energy bills.

Also, in a landmark move for landlords, Skipton will give 10 free EPC Plus reports for buy-to-let customers with property portfolios.

Skipton’s EPC Plus launch comes as the latest household data reveals homeowners will be paying on average £1,570 more this year on energy bills alone. However, following a recent government announcement, it is estimated that improving your homes efficiency could shave £4,502 off annual household bills.

Kris Brewster, interim chief commercial officer at Skipton, said: “Home energy efficiency is a huge societal challenge where everyone needs to play their part. It is only right that the business community steps up to the mark, and as a customer-owned organisation we’re reinvesting some of our profits to help our members save money and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

“We understand that making any upgrades to the home can be a significant financial undertaking. The qualifying funding can be used towards the recommended upgrade works listed within their bespoke EPC Plus report.”

“To have a healthy housing market, we need to support every rung on the property ladder, and that includes people living in rental properties. Landlords play an integral part of housing provision but equally face massive challenges in greening their homes.

“We’ve taken the decision to also offer free EPC Plus inspections and reports to our buy-to-let customers too. Irrespective of if they only have one rental property mortgaged with Skipton, we will provide up to 10 free EPC Plus assessments and reports for their property portfolios.”

Each report also details the typical costs associated with making any of the recommended changes to their home mentioned in the report and provides access to registered, independent tradespeople who come recommended to carry out any changes.

Latest UK EPC data reveals that 60-70 per cent of all UK homes currently have an EPC rating of band D or lower. In the Autumn Statement, the Government reconfirmed £6.6bn will be committed to energy efficiency. However, Skipton says it is currently estimated that it will cost more than £330 billion5 to upgrade all properties in the UK.