David Attenborough has had an affect on most of us. We're all trying to do our bit, to better the environment. But let's address the elephant in the room when it comes to property developing... renovations. Renovations can be the most wasteful and non-sustainable things we can do in life - ripping out old materials, surplus of new materials after installs and just the sheer amount of waste created can be heart wrenching. So, how can we as property developers do better and be more sustainable in our property renovations? Let's take a look...
1. Donate/resell salvageable materials
Save on your waste removal bill (because we all know this can be jaw-droppingly expensive) and donate or resell as much as you can. Lots of charities will do home collections for larger items, simply call them up and book a date convenient for you. You can actually make money from re-selling items too. You'll be suprised how many people want those avocado bathroom suites - there are even companies re-creating these bathrooms styles...and for an eye watering sum may I add!
In my last property renovation they didn't clear the loft out and there were some absolute gems up there, including a vintage commodore which I sold on ebay for £120! Try this too and then maybe you can justify those fancy tiles after all.
Besides from making money, rehoming an item and the thought of someone else benefitting from it instead of it going to landfill always feels good. All of this may take extra time on your end, but we'd say it's worth it to do the right thing.
tml top tip - save all of your scrap metal from the rip outs and cash it in at the scrap yard for cash!
2. Buy second hand where possible
Second hand doesn't just have to be limited to side boards and bed frames. I've seen unused radiators, shower panels, whole sink units and tiles, from half price to free even!
People change their minds frequently, so you can often get brand new items for much cheaper from places like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and eBay. If you love a scroll on Instagram, try and dedicate some of that scrolling to FB Marketplace to make sure you're exposed to as many bargains as possible, as they're uploaded daily.
tml top tip - If you're looking for something in particular, set up alerts on FB Marketplace for those key words to be notified as soon as something that matches is uploaded. This will ensure you are first in line and likely to get it!
3. Use eco-friendly paint
Not all paints are created equal, some contain toxic chemicals known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which are not only hazardous to the environment, but also to your health. With paint being on all your walls inside your property, inhaling harmful paint chemicals is not something you want to be doing. Our top recommendations for eco paint companies are Coat, Lick and Little Greene.
If you're looking to use wallpaper within your projects, look to those companies that offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wallpaper. This means the materials come from well-managed forests or are recycled.
Little Greene | Coat | Lick
tml top tip - Did you know that there are paint recycling centres in major cities? They get donations of partially used paints from the general public, stopping waste and contamination, and mix them to colour match new paints. They sell these at a fraction of the cost of what new paint costs - double win!
Think beyond the renovation and into the use of the property and the effect that will have on the environment. For example...
4. Choose materials wisely
Choose materials that are long lasting. Just like paint, not all materials are created equal. For example, windows are a key energy saver or drainer depending on the type. You may think that going second hand here is a good idea, but this is the one area we don't recommend thrifting! You want to be looking for A++ rated windows and at least double glazed. Your window fitter should responsibly recycle these windows. There are many recycling schemes, so please don't let them go in the skip!
5. Insulate your property
This is the single most important thing you can do to reduce heat loss and lower your tenants energy bills. There's many types of insulation - wall, loft, roof, floor, pipe and draught proofing. Dependant on your property age and type, you may choose different methods.
Around a third of all heat lost escapes through the walls so we'd definitely recommend some sort of wall insulation if you currently have none.
Although the government have now scrapped the ambitious EPC minimum requirement of a C rating, it's still worth future proofing your investments as the likeliness of this coming back in at some point is high. Besides this, a good EPC rating is a selling point for tenants and could demand a higher rent.
6. Energy Saving Solutions
If you're renovating a HMO this is a step you're going to want to consider as all-inclusive bills are common in HMOs. Installing efficient water-saving taps and showers is a great way to reduce your water use. If you are doing a light refurb and not replacing all your sanitary ware you could install aerating taps. These combine air with the water, which uses less water without feeling the difference.
Heating controls would also be a good idea for a HMO and it goes without saying in all property renovations to use LED lighting.
Whilst sustainable renovations might involve an upfront investment and take additional time, they can lead to long term gain both for you as the owner, and your tenants. However, remember this is an investment and ensure you prioritise solutions that make the most sense for your property and budget, whilst considering the environment.
