A fairer system on carbon emissions

Proposed changes to regulations on consequential improvements to property (The ‘conservatory tax’ is dead. Long live consequential improvements, 14 September, www.building.co.uk) do not address carbon emissions. I could own a building for the next 30 years, do nothing to it, and carry on as normal without any changes being required. Why should some one be forced to spend significant sums altering a property when a similar property next door is not required to do anything?

All that is going to happen is what is happening with electrical works - people will refuse to engage with building control and approved inspectors to avoid fees which are often more than the asset being altered.

Just observe customers in B&Q buying kitchens and then 32A cooker sockets on the same trip - in many cases no electrician will ever test the alterations undertaken.

I believe in an equitable system where everyone is treated the same and it would be much fairer to introduce a carbon emissions rating applied to the council tax and non-domestic rating assessment system under a polluter pays policy, very much like motor cars. High carbon emitters would pay much more that low emitters.

Patrick Murdock, via www.building.co.uk