CML responds to housing minister's announcement on energy performance

Responding to today's announcement by housing minister Yvette Cooper, CML head of policy Jackie Bennett said:

"We are happy to discuss with the government its ideas for a framework in which mortgage funding could contribute further to making homes more energy efficient. A number of lenders already take into account utility bills when assessing how affordable a mortgage would be. 

"It is clearly a fundamental requirement that any successful measures must be attractive to borrowers, as well as being able to work within the confines of what mortgage finance is capable of delivering. As the minister acknowledges, there is also a role here for other stakeholders, including energy companies, local authorities and landlords in the social and private sectors." 

Notes to editors

1. The Council of Mortgage Lenders' members are banks, building societies and other lenders who together undertake around 98% of all residential mortgage lending in the UK. There are 11.6 million mortgages in the UK, with loans worth over £1 trillion.