Independent certification of homes
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Achieving standards above minimum requirements can lead to positive outcomes for home occupiers. It is important to ensure these standards are realised in construction (not just in planning and design) and that they are communicated to the home occupier to ensure they understand the full potential of their home.
This applies to most certification schemes, whether it be BREEAM, HQM (Home Quality Mark), Passivhaus, LEED or WELL. While they measure varying aspects and in differing ways, they provide a degree of rigour and comparability in evidence and methodology. Independent, accredited certification can give a benefits for a range of stakeholders to help give them confidence in what is better, and facilitating robust and credible comparisons.
[edit] Home occupiers
Certification provides reassurance, trust and the ability to compare between different homes. With a certificate in place the home occupier can have much greater confidence in the performance of their home, knowing that claims about quality, savings and benefits have been independently verified. This empowers them to make better choices: If two apparently identical houses are available but one has an independent certificate backing up the claimed performance and the other does not, it is it is more likely the certified property will be chosen.
[edit] Developers
The main benefit to developers is differentiation of product against competitors. This can become a key marketing tool in drawing out the benefits of their particular offer.
Passivhaus achieves higher than 90% approval ratings by occupiers. In a survey carried out for HQM, more than 70% of respondents said they would be happy to pay over £750 extra (on a home valued at £300,000) for a certificate demonstrating its overall quality and sustainability.
[edit] Financial sector, health sector, land owners, planners, and so on
Certification also provides evidence for many other sectors. For example, it provides the financial and insurance sector with an additional tool for determining and managing risks. In turn this provides additional reassurance for investment decisions. If such a decision is to be made between two developers, who are building outwardly identical homes, but one is certified, accreditation is likely to add confidence. With growing costs, and reducing budgets in the health sector, certification can also help give reassurance about what developments to encourage.
[edit] Construction industry
Whole house certification and standards also provide the construction industry and its supply chains a number of benefits.
Firstly standards that improve on minimum requirements provide a framework to drive forward the quality and performance delivered by industry. As many certification schemes are linked to research bodies, the income generated from certification helps to fund further research. BREEAM, HQM (and in the past the Code for Sustainable Homes) provide funding to the BRE Trust, which in turn helps fund research.
Furthermore, certification can help pave the way to future regulation, or make it clear that regulation is not appropriated. It can help build the case, by providing evidence and also ways in which it can be measured. If leading developers in industry are already building to higher [voluntary] standards, this learning and product development makes it much cheaper for the rest of industry when (and if) higher standards are integrated into regulations.
This article was originally published by BRE by The value of independent certification of homes. It was first written for UKGBC’s Task Group Report: Health and Wellbeing in Homes.
--BRE Buzz
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.