News

Gatehouse Bank partners with Eco Approach to help customers improve home energy efficiency

  • New Gatehouse Bank research finds nearly 9 in 10 (88%) UK adults say making energy-efficient improvements would matter to them when buying a home*
  • Eco Approach's energy efficiency platform, GreenVal, allows Gatehouse Bank customers to understand their property's energy performance and get a clear action plan for improvements
  • The platform can help landlords prepare for upcoming changes to minimum energy efficiency standards, coming into effect in October 2030

Almost nine in ten UK adults (88%) say making energy-efficient improvements would be important to them when buying a home, according to new research from Gatehouse Bank, with more than half (58%) saying it would be very or extremely important.*

To support customers who are seeking to make improvements and help them start to prepare for changes to minimum energy efficiency standards coming into force in 2030, Shariah-compliant, ethical bank, Gatehouse Bank, has joined GreenVal, Eco Approach's established energy efficiency platform. Eco Approach has delivered energy efficiency and retrofit works to thousands of UK homes every month since 2013.

The platform allows the Bank’s Home Purchase Plan** and Buy-to-Let customers to check their current EPC rating, see which improvements they could make, get estimated costs, arrange home improvement work with Eco Approach and receive a personalised action plan to improve their property.

From 1 October 2030, privately rented homes in England and Wales will need to meet a minimum EPC rating of C, meaning now is a good time for landlords to identify which improvements could be suitable for their property and put an action plan in place.

For homeowners, making energy efficient improvements such as insulation, heat pumps, solar panels and heating upgrades can make homes warmer, more comfortable and cheaper to run as well as support the long-term appeal of the property.

Lee Rix, Managing Director of Eco Approach, said: "Most people want a more energy-efficient home but don't know where to start. GreenVal takes away that uncertainty, showing Gatehouse Bank customers how their property performs today, what it needs and what it will cost, giving them a clear action plan to move forward.

"We share Gatehouse Bank's belief that finance should be a force for good, and we're proud to help turn that into real change in people's homes."

Charles Haresnape, Chief Executive Officer at Gatehouse Bank, said: “Our new partnership with Eco Approach complements our existing range of green home finance products and further enhances the support we can offer customers looking to make their homes more energy efficient.

“Through tailored energy efficiency insights and recommendations, customers can identify ways to improve energy performance, reduce household costs and create more comfortable living spaces. The partnership will also help landlords start to prepare for upcoming regulatory changes.

“As a founding signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, supporting customers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes is an important part of our ESG strategy. By helping customers make their homes more energy efficient, we can also help reduce the emissions of the homes we finance, marking another tangible step towards a more sustainable future.”

Gatehouse Bank customers can access GreenVal at: How to Improve Your Home Energy Efficiency | Gatehouse Bank plc. To learn more about Eco Approach's retrofit services, visit ecoapproach.co.uk.

*Research was commissioned by Gatehouse Bank and carried out by Censuswide between 28 September – 2 October 2026. The survey asked 2,001 nationally representative UK adults aged 18+: if you were to buy a home now or in the future, how important, if at all, would making energy-efficient home improvements be to you (for example installing solar panels, heat pumps, insulation or upgrading windows)? Results: 18% extremely important, 40% very important, 25% moderately important, 5% slightly important (88% important in total).

**A Home Purchase Plan is a Shariah-compliant alternative to a mortgage.