We Can Do the Whole Journey | Howard Lord Talks to Insider
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Our founder, Howard Lord, recently spoke to Insider Media about the journey behind CERT Property,
Howard and Paul are kicking off Season 3 with a deep dive into commercial utility prices, and their growing impact on businesses and landlords, joined by guest Gary Stewart from Octane.
Utility Bills Are No Longer Background Noise
Until recently, most landlords didn’t give much thought to their utility contracts. But after the huge price surges of 2022, that’s changed. Some businesses have seen costs rise by 300% or more, and landlords are starting to feel the pressure too.
Gary explains to Howard & Paul how Otto helps landlords and developers manage their utilities more proactively — from choosing the right tariff to spotting when a building is using more energy than it should. In a world where energy costs can now rival service charges or maintenance spend, getting this right has never been more important.
Super Smart Meters and Surprising Sources of Waste
One of the more surprising takeaways from the episode is just how easy it is for energy waste to go unnoticed. Gary shares with Paul and Howard stories of walk-in fridges left running 24/7 with nothing inside, or kitchen teams using gas hobs long after service has ended — and no one realising until the bill arrives.
Super Smart meters might be the solution to this problem, a layer of tech that sits on top of standard smart meters, breaking down usage into clear reports, helping landlords and businesses pinpoint where energy is going — and where it’s being wasted. It’s a relatively low-cost fix with the potential for big savings.
Unclear EPC Rules Leave Landlords in Limbo
Paul and Howard also dive into the confusion around Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rules. With the government planning changes to how EPCs are graded in 2026, many landlords are unsure whether to invest now or wait. Some are pressing ahead with upgrades to get ahead of future rules, while others are holding off worried they’ll spend thousands only to see the grading system change. Gary explains how this uncertainty is slowing progressing across the sector and making it harder for landlords to plan with confidence.
Energy Pricing Is Unpredictable — So What Can You Do?
The episode closes with a look at where energy prices might be going. While we’d all love to see a return to 2020 rates, Gary is clear: “You might as well write those prices on a gravestone.” In other words, they’re not coming back.
Instead, he advises landlords to focus on what they can control; getting the best deal possible, managing usage carefully, and choosing contract lengths based on their own appetite for risk.
To listen to the full podcast episode, head over to Apple podcast or Spotify! You can also watch it here:
