22 March 2021
The Green Party is calling on the government to cut VAT for refurbishment and retrofitting works to lower energy consumption and ensure everybody has access to a warm home.
Tracey Harwood, Green Party candidate for Leatherhead and Fetcham East in the May elections, was speaking after the Green Party launched a petition demanding the removal of VAT for all refurbishment projects that substantially reduce carbon emissions. It also calls for a 20% VAT on new build schemes, only reducing it to 5% if the build meets minimum passive house standard.
“The government can not continue to delay implementing measures to avert the climate and ecological crisis. A prime focus must be on reducing the carbon emissions that our existing homes produce, whilst keeping them safe and warm. If the government chooses a VAT policy that favours big business over householders, it forgoes the chance to benefit all of society.”
Lisa Scott Conte, Green Party candidate for Dorking Rural, said:
“The quickest way to provide Green homes for everybody is to retrofit the homes we already have, to make them carbon efficient. This would go a long way to immediately upgrade millions of cold, draughty housing stock that so many of our communities live in and many struggle to heat.
I retrofitted my own house and this winter didn’t turn my heating on until December 2nd and could turn it off immediately after the February cold snap.
Some 40% of the country’s total emissions are currently produced by the construction industry, yet VAT is lower on new builds than on refurbishments.”
