That's the slightly alarming message property search portal Primemove got when surveying its users. Eighty-two percent said they'd disregard one of the government's soon-to-be-compusory energy efficiency ratings when choosing a house, and 90% said they wouldn't have faith in the rating. Most said they'd make their own improvements to a property post-purchase - even if only to save running costs. Here's Primemove's Henry Pryor:

If they really think a buyer is going to amend his or her offer on a £200,000 home because it has a D rating rather than a C rating then they have completely misunderstood the current market where in some parts of the country there are five or six bidders for a property. A selling agent or vendor is unlikely to take a buyer seriously who wants £300 off the property price to put towards lagging the loft!

Meanwhile, the Better Regulation Committee (established by this Government as a way of avoiding ill-considered regulatory responses to problems) has published a response to the Government's energy efficiency ratings plans:

In our recent review of the regulatory aspects of the Stern report, we explicitly cautioned against ill considered regulatory responses to the climate change challenge. Here we have an example of proposals that are not part of a clear strategic framework and impose additional administration burdens with inadequate justification.

Ouch. Read more on that here.

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